Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/91

 It is interesting when the pursued fly to man for security. When Major Higginson was once riding over the mountains, north- ward of Glenarm, a skylark, pursued by a hawk (doubtless either this species, or a merlin), made several attempts "to fly into his breast," but failing in this, sought shelter beneath the body of his horse. He instantly alighted, and took up the lark, whose little heart was beating most violently, during which time, the hawk kept so near, that his whip was in requisition, in the hope that the lash might reach it. Inconsiderately, he concealed the lark in the heath merely, instead of carrying it to some distance, as the hawk was observed to remain about the spot, and, in all probability, the poor bird, though respited for a time, eventually fell its victim. Some years ago, a swallow in the neighbourhood of Belfast, actually did take refuge in a lady's breast from a spar- row-hawk. As a sporting friend was shooting upon his moor in Ayrshire, in the month of October, a lark, pursued by a merlin (Falco æsalon), came from the distance of about a hundred yards directly towards him and his servant, and alighted near their feet, apparently for safety. On reaching the ground, it was so ex- hausted as to be unable to close its wings.

Sparrow-hawh and Heron. — Once, at the end of July, when walking along the side of the river Lagan, near Belfast, I was attracted by the loud screams of herons, which appeared above the trees at the north-west extremity of Belvoir Park. A couple of these giants of the air kept flying above the tops of the trees with tremendous uproar, in consequence of the presence of a single sparrow-hawk ! This bird was circling about, and the herons awkwardly and quite unavailingly endeavouring to strike him. Mying quite at ease, his turns were so short, and, at the same time, so full of grace, that he seemed to laugh to scorn their heavy lumbering movements. The herons' savage cries were apparently (evidently, might almost be said) caused by the hawk's make- believe attempt to carry off their young, as they were particularly violent and vociferous whenever he made a swoop, — as I remarked him to do thrice, — at the top of a particular tree. It seemed a mere play or bravado on the part of the hawk, as he could easily, in