THE SPARROW-HAWK.

THIS is a very common species in most of the wooded or enclosed parts of the kingdom, but in the more champaign parts it is less frequently observed. Seldom making a nest, it generally takes possession of one which a crow has left. The female is very bold, destroying largely game and young poultry, flying low for this purpose; snatching up a chick from a brood in an instant, and as quickly out of sight.

A pair of sparrow-hawks bred in an old crow's nest on a low beech in Selborne Hanger; and as their brood, which was numerous, began to grow up, they became so daring and ravenous, as to be a terror to all the dames in the village who had charge of either ducklings or chickens. A boy climbed up into a tree, and found the young so fully fledged, that they all escaped, but he observed also that the larder was well stored with provisions he brought down some half-devoured, and a young blackbird, jay, and house-martin, all clean picked. The fact was, that the old birds had made sad

havoc for some days among the newly flown swallows and martins, which having but lately left their nests, had not acquired sufficient power or command of wing to defy their enemies.

One family is described as having a pet sparrowhawk. Harry, as he was called, became tolerably tame a few weeks after his arrival, would take food from the hand, and follow them about, even in the house. Though the kitchen was not at other times his favourite apartment, he always visited it when meat was roasting. He was fed on dead birds and mice, when these could be procured. Cruel, as it certainly is, to expose a live bird to the torture of fear, sometimes one was given him : then the poor little creature did not at first attempt to stir, but crouched down with its breast close to the ground; after a few minutes it would move, when Harry, who had been standing perfectly still, would give it a pat with its foot to make it quiet. If two or three persons were standing around, some minutes would pass in this way, and, at last, Harry would give one instantaneous peck on the head of the bird, and it was dead. Then, but never till then, did he commence his meal, always eating in the same manner, with great nicety and neatness, and leaving only the strong feathers of the wings and tail.