Sparrow

This piece is another in the family of bifurcating hoppers like the Moose and Eagle, and is shown as an inverted Knight (unless there are also Nightriders). The Sparrow moves like a Grasshopper but turning 135° over the hurdle to land on one of two cells; its two possible moves make an arrow shape with the move to the hurdle.

Solution:1.Kf3 Bg5 2.Kg4 Kf6 3.Kh5 Sh4‡

Comment: A very odd mate (Dennison Nixon).

Solution, Chessics #10, December 1980:
1.00 Sg6 2.Bg7 Sh6 3.Kh8 Kg6 4.Rg8 Sh7‡
Double check mate over movable hurdles B and R.

Comment: Even odder! (Dennison Nixon).
Curious that K and Sparrow can mate versus K, B, R, where K and Eagle could not. (C. C. L. Sells).

The original had Se3, which allowed a dual solution.

Solution:1.e5 Kc7 2.e4 Se5 3.Kf6 Sd5+ 4.Ke6 Se7‡
Mate over movable hurdle. In the mate Pf7 cannot play to f6 or f5.

I think this may be cooked, since I have a note of a version, using Opting Pawns with Wh: Kb6, Sc6, Sd6, Bk: Pe6, Pf6, Kg6, Play: 1.e4 Se7 2.Kf5 Sd4+ 3.Ke5 Kc6 4.e3 Se6 mate (5.f5/f4 selfcheck). But this may also be unsound.

Solution, Chessics #10, December 1980:
Sb2 foe 1-3.Kc3 4.Sc4 5.Sd4 6-8.Ka1 9.Sc2 10.Sc1 11.Sb1 and Sa2‡ WS and BK switchbacks. Again checkmate over moveable hurdle.