Hawk and Rabbit The other example of the rabbit's power
of offence is less - moral and rather more surprising. A gamekeeper (who perhaps deserved the name better than some of his class) saw a sparrow-hawk attack a full-grown rabbit in the middle of a grass field. A fierce battle was engaged without advantage to either side ; but at last with a stamp of the hindlegs the rabbit broke the hawk's wing and made off. little damaged. The gamekeeper picked up the hawk, whose wing brine was shattered. Such power has this inoffensive mammal. It is, of course, surprising that so small a hawk should attack so big an animal. The rabbit is the favourite prey of our biggest hawk, the buzzard ; and a year or two ago I found portions of two rabbits in the nesting hole of a tawny owl. A young bird, an unhatched egg and portions of the two rabbits were all juxtaposed in the nest ; but the rabbits were young. That a small hawk whose usual prey is small birds should seize a full-grown rabbit is something of a marvel.
Previous page
