a Le THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. . 97 
: The hen-bird was shot, and answered exactly to Mr. Ray’s 
description of that species; had a black cere, short thick legs, 
and a long tail. When on the wing this species may be easily 
distinguished from the common buzzard by its hawk-like 
appearance, small head, wings not so blunt, and longer tail. 
This specimen contained in its craw some limbs of frogs and 
many grey snails without shells. ‘The irides of the eyes of this 
bird were of a beautiful bright-yellow color. 
About the roth July in the same summer a pair of sparrow- 
hawks bred in an old crow’s nest on a low beech in the same 
Hanger; and as their brood, which was numerous, began to 
grow up, became so daring and ravenous, that they were a 
terror to all the dames in the village that had chickens or 
ducklings under theircare. A boy climbed the tree, and found 
the young so fledged that they all escaped from him; but 
' discovered that a good house had been kept: the larder was 
well stored with provisions; for he brought down a young 
blackbird, jay, and house-martin, all clean picked, and some 
half devoured. The old birds had been observed to make 
sad havoc for some days among the new-flown swallows and 
martins, which, being but lately out of their nests, had not 
acquired those powers and command of wing that enable them, 
when more mature, to set such enemies at defiance. 
LeTrer XLIV. 
SELBORNE, Nov. 30th, 1780. 
Every incident that occasions a renewal of our correspon- 
dence will ever be pleasing and agreeable to me. 
As to the wild wood-pigeon, I am much of your mind ; and 
see no reason for making it the origin of the common house- 
dove ; but suppose those that have advanced that opinion may 
