Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/90

 lence as to raise a cloud of dust. It rolled over the body several times, — measuring, at least, half the breadth of the road, — before recovering itself. It is not, therefore, surprising that tins species should sometimes fall a victim to its temerity. On the ] 2th of August, 1847, an adult male was killed by flying against one of the windows of Belfast College, about seven o'clock in the evening. It was seen by some of the boys outside of the building, to strike against, and break the window, in pursuit of a small bird, which, however, by some means escaped. The porter, hearing the crash of glass, hurried instantly to the room, and found the hawk on the floor perfectly dead. The taxidermist who skinned it, looked particularly to ascertain the cause of death, but no injury what- ever was apparent, except that a globule of blood was seen through the skull, upon the brain : the skull itself was quite whole. The bird had evidently died of concussion of the brain.

Efforts of its intended victims to escape. — Rarely is there any possibility of escape for the poor victims. But I remember once being astonished at the quickness with which a flock of sparrows dashed into the midst of a thick hedge, on the appearance of one of these hawks, the swiftness of whose flight seemed as if it must have secured him one of them. The sparrows, however, having timely perceived their enemy's approach, contrived to save them- selves.*

The following occurrence, though not happening on Irish ground, was witnessed by so accurate an observer, Wm, Ogilby, Esq., that I cannot resist introducing it here: — "I once," he remarks (about the year 1832), "had an opportunity, from on board a Ramsgate steamer, of witnessing a curious pursuit of a thrush by a sparrow- hawk. We were off the North Foreland at the time : the thrush was, when first seen, a considerable way ahead of her pursuer, and making vigorous efforts to gain the woods which surround the seat of Mr. Alexander, near Broadstairs ; the hawk was evidently bent on forcing her out to sea, for which purpose, instead of flying directly at the thrush, he kept close in along shore, always heading her, and thus effectually cutting off her retreat. This lasted for a considerable time, till at length the thrush, wearied with flying, and probably despairing of reaching the wood, wheeled suddenly round, and made directly for the steamer. The hawk dashed boldly and rapidly after her, and was with some difficulty prevented from pouncing on his victim even when perched on the foremast. Baffled in this attempt, he retreated to the woods on shore. The thrush accompanied us for some time, and supposing the coast clear, at length flew off to the woods. Her enemy, who no doubt kept his eye on her all the time, permitted her to come within a short distance before showing himself ; but I had finally the mortification of seeing the poor thrush fall a victim to his cunning and prowess."