loving the shelter afforded by the heights and recesses of the silent mountains. The bird evidently prefers high to low countries, and is, therefore, rare in the level and fertile districts, which it abandons to meaner hawks. This powerful falcon may be often seen in northern regions hovering round the feeding-grounds of the wild ducks, like a frigate watching for some stray ship from a squadron. When the peregrine strikes a bird, the victim is instantly killed by the blow, being frequently torn through the whole length of the body at one stroke. So seldom is this falcon seen in this country, that Gilbert White sent the body of one to his friend Pennant, with the remark, "I cannot make it answer to any of our English hawks; neither could I find any like it at the curious exhibition of stuffed birds in Spring Gardens." This said hawk had been discovered in rather ignominious circumstances, for White says, "I found it nailed up at the end of a barn, which is the countryman's museum." The ensuing remarks from this author may perhaps be acceptable to the reader. "One of the keepers of Wolmer forest sent me a peregrine falcon, which he shot on the verge of that district as it was devouring a woodpigeon. The falco peregrinus is a noble species of hawk, seldom seen in the southern counties. In winter, 1767, one was killed in the parish of Farringdon, and was sent by me to Mr. Pennant into North Wales. Since that time I have met with none till The specimen mentioned above was in fine preservation, and not injured by the shot; it measured forty-two inches from wing to wing, and twenty-one from beak to tail, and weighed two pounds and a half standing weight."

now.

The Falco columbarius is another species of hawk, rare in the south of England, but common in most European countries. The term falco columbarius signifies pigeon-hawk, the bird being sufficiently powerful to destroy the larger varieties of the feathered tribes, such as pigeons, partridges, and even pheasants. It is generally called the gos-hawk by English writers, and is noted for the peculiar manner in which it pursues the prey, by flying after the game in a straight line instead of trying to get above it, and then to swoop down upon the victim. It is thus adapted for the pursuit of birds which keep long upon the wing, and fly in a direct line. This hawk is sometimes seen watching for prey in the more open parts of the north and west of England, especially near wide heaths and moorlands, and in the vicinity of forests. He who takes a summer's tour through Devonshire, and pauses to examine the geology of Dartmoor, may sometimes see the gos-hawk sweeping over the granite hills of that lonely region. Such a district is its favourite hunting-ground, the absence of woods affording no shelter to the pursued birds, and the range of open country facilitating the long and straight flight for which this bird of prey is adapted.

is rare.

It is not, however, every traveller who keeps to the beaten roads that can expect to see the gos-hawk in its native state, for even in the most suitable localities south of the Tweed this bird Most readers must therefore make up their minds to know this falcon only by report, for as to undertaking a journey for the mere purpose of becoming acquainted with the habits of a hawk, it is quite out of the question. Some enthusiasts, to be sure, there may be absurd enough even for this, cries some man who knows more of Hyde Park than of the forest or the moor, and would rather see a match at pigeon-shooting than watch the flight of a golden eagle from the top of Ben Lomond. So be it, every one to his calling; let us not, however, despise a Waterton or a Wilson, who have for a time left paved streets and gas-lighted squares for the banks of far-rolling rivers and the silence of magnificent forests. Those who prefer studying the tricks of statesmen and the curious movements of politicians to observing the habits of the gos-hawk, may do so with our hearty wishes for their growth in wisdom; and all who think that every fact in nature may suggest a valuable truth, or excite a healthy emotion, will jot down in their pocket note-books, "Gos-hawk to be looked for in England."

The search may not be vain for those who live in the country, and have the opportunities for observing those events which are only to be seen far from the smoke of towns and cities. Suffolk and Norfolk, and even counties still more to the south, have been visited by this hawk, though such arrivals are not frequent in those parts.

Per

Accipiter fringillarius. This is the name given by our English naturalist Ray to the sparrow-hawk, though his successor Linnæus call it falco nisus. The former appellation is perhaps sufficiently correct, when we remember that fringilla is the name given to a chaffinch, or to other small birds, upon which this hawk principally feeds. The epithet fringillarius, therefore, is not inappropriate to a bird which preys chiefly on the more diminutive members of the feathered tribes. The term nisus, used by Linnæus, is not so appropriate, for it seems to have been applied to a species of osprey in common with the sparrow-hawk. haps he was fascinated by the classical use of the word nisus, and by the fable which teaches that Nisus, king of Megara, was changed into a hawk when his city was taken by the enemy, who had obtained admission through the treachery of Scylla, the daughter of Nisus. This lady was turned into a lark, and the fable represents the hawk and the lark as eternally hating each other. We need not, however, further discuss the principles upon which this hawk has been named; it may therefore suffice to have stated the epithets given by Ray and Linnæus, without entering at greater length into the ground of the application.

X

The habits of the sparrow-hawk are well known to the peasants, farmers, and country gentlemen of England, for the bird is by no means rare, though not often seen, it may be, by some of our readers. Whenever the birds take up their abode near to a farmyard, their presence is quickly intimated by many visits to the young broods of chickens. This of course irritates the good farmwife beyond all bounds, and renders her a dangerous foe to these predatory hawks. The boldness of the accipiter fringil larius equals that of the eagle itself, though its small size renders it unable to destroy the larger class of birds. But swallows, finches, black birds, and thrushes, fall victims to the rapacity of this hawk, especially in spring and summer, before the young broods have acquired much strength of wing.

The dwelling-places of this fierce Falconidae are often in the neighbourhood of places which suggest peace to all; for not unfrequently are the nests found in the ivy-clad towers of ancient churches. But the hawk, unreflecting creature, feels not the soft influence of such localities, but wanders intent upon murderous deeds over the woods and vales of the peaceful region. Sadly does his presence disturb the happiness of the otherwise cheerful hedge-sparrow, and grievously does it interfere with the innocent amusements of goldfinches and linnets.

The Kite is the next and last variety of the hawk family to which we shall call the reader's attention. This bird is easily

known by its forked tail, which attracts the notice of beholders, as it wings its way with balanced motion through the air, and seems rather to float than fly above the earth.

The Latin name of this variety is milvus, and Linnæus classed it in his system under the terms falco milvus; but in many parts of Britain the peasantry call it the glead, a word which is supposed to refer to its peculiarly gliding motion. When the bird is seen high in the calm air, it seems to move without the least motion of the wings, poising high above the ground, as if floating in the supporting atmosphere. Sometimes the observer is delighted with the elegant circles described by the kite whilst hunting for prey, and forgets, in the gracefulness of its motions, the rapacity for which it is noted. This gliding through the air distinguishes the kite from other hawks, which move with more appearance of fiery effort and determination.

This falcon does not confine its food to the inhabitants of the air, but extends its hunts to the ground, from which it delights to snap up young rabbits, hares, and even frogs and snakes; whilst, at times, an incautious fish, disporting near the surface of the water, is unceremoniously whisked out of its element.

These feats of the kite are not, however, often witnessed in the south of England, from which it has retired, having been long persecuted by gamekeepers. One may now and then be observed wheeling high in air, as if calculating the chances of receiving a shot in the event of coming down upon the farmyards beneath, but such a sight is rare, and likely to become more so.

But the bird was numerous in former times, and hundreds might have been found without much trouble even in populous Middlesex. The naturalist can, however, see no reason for regretting the absence of this falcon, whilst every gamekeeper and bird-fancier will most heartily join in the wish that such a plunderer may never return.

The Strigidae, or Owl Family.

THESE are to be classed beyond a doubt with birds of prey, although the predacious habits of an owl may not be so apparent to general observers as those of the hawk or eagle. The one hunts in the twilight, the other in the broad light of day; but both are alike destructive to birds and small animals. The owls are perhaps, of all birds, the most peculiar in appearance. The solemn look and bewigged head; the noiseless flight and nightly hunt; the ruined towers and solitary woods, where most make their homes, combine to invest these birds with a species of mystery. The world, to say the truth, does not much like the owl; sees something suspicious about him, and would rather be quit of his company. He has somehow got a bad name, and very few will risk their credit by saying much in his favour. How the owl got into this unfortunate scrape it is easy to understand. He has a suspicious liking for dark places; loves to meditate among the tombs; keeps himself at home all day, as if scorning the occupations of all honest daylight birds; he never joins in bird festivities, and seems always brooding over foul conspiracies against the