Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/87



Accipiter nisus, Linn, (sp.) Falco

such localities, we are often attracted by this beautiful creature, — with the exception of the kestrel, the most common of the Ealconidse, — sweeping in silence past us, in a flight equally characterized by power and elegance. Approaching silently, it appears meteor-like, but for a moment, as a graceful sweep of wing bears it over the fence, and its flight onward being towards the ground, it is wholly lost to our sight. Its boldness is ex- treme ; but this we almost forgive on account of its undaunted spirit. Many instances of this trait having been made known to me, the most striking shall be given, as illustrating the character of the species.

A keen-sighted friend has mentioned, what, indeed, is not un- common with respect to the celerity of the flight of the sparrow- hawk ; — one sweeping closely past him towards a flock of wag- tails, and bearing a victim away so suddenly, that he could not tell whether it was seized on the ground, or on the wing.

As remarked by Robert Evatt, Esq., Mount Louise, county of Monaghan : —

"When the flocks of linnets, chaffinches, and other little birds assemble of a winter evening to roost among the laurels and young spruce round the house, and their happy noisy chatter tells us what a fuss they are making about their perching-places, the sparrow-hawk comes through the midst of them, from some un- expected quarter, and scatters them like chaff before the wind. The first intimation of his presence is often his departure, and the death screech of his captive.

"The old birds are constantly seen darting through the woods after young thrushes and black -birds, then alighting on the bough

I have, both in Ireland and Scotland, remarked it to be comparatively scarce in wild and unenclosed districts, though containing abundance of wood.