Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/92

 spite of the herons, have borne off the contents of the nest any time, were the prey not too bulky for his purpose.

Mr. R. Langtry has not only observed a wild sparrow-hawk strike his sea eagles when perching on their sheds ; but when his golden eagle was on wing, has seen one of these birds strike it in passing, and once even witnessed the hawk's turning back and repeating the impertinence.

Nest. — An ornithological friend, on climbing a tree, at the Falls, to one of their nests, was, when within a few yards of it, attacked by the female bird, and his cap, at one stroke, sent to the ground. He speedily followed it, lest the next stroke should be on his bare head ; but replacing the cap more firmly on, he gallantly remounted to the nest, which he had been almost daily in the habit of visiting, and was gratified with the sight of four young birds, that day hatched. The boldness of the parent was now accounted for. The young were described as beautiful in their first garb of snow-white down. Early in the month of June they generally make their appearance. A pair of these birds inha- bited a wooded glen there, in which they bred regularly for many years, until one of them was trapped, when its partner deserted the place : had this happened in the breeding season, another mate would doubtless have been found, that the great duty of the period might be proceeded with. The locality for some years from that time was tenanted instead by a pair of kestrels. Sparrow-hawks again resumed occupation, and the kestrels in consequence took their departure, though it might be imagined that, in an extent of wooded glen of fully a quarter of a mile, there would be room enough for a pair of each species ; but even the smaller birds of prey prefer to have a considerable range. When they are more numerous than ordinary, we may be pretty sure that their prey is likewise so : — the balance of nature will be kept up. Although the trees generally are old and large, one nest here was not more than six feet

A pair for many years frequented the plantations at Fort William, near Belfast, and though one of them was several times shot, no matter whether male or female fell victim, the survivor was, invariably, soon provided with another mate.