AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK. 59 



are still found, in all of which countries they probably 

 breed. 



According to the habits of this tribe of rapacious birds, 

 it appears that the nest is built in a hollow, shattered, or 

 decayed tree at a considerable elevation ; the eggs are 

 said to be 4 or 5, of a light brownish yellow and spotted 

 with brown. 



Its motions appear somewhat capricious, it occasion- 

 ally hovers with beating wings, reconnoitring for prey, 

 and soon impatiently darts off to a distance to renew the 

 same manoeuvre. In the winter, however, it is most 

 commonly seen perched on some dead branch, or 

 on a pole or stalk in the fields, often at a little dis- 

 tance from the ground, keeping up a frequent jerking of 

 the tail, and attentively watching for some such humble 

 game as mice, grasshoppers, or lizards. At this time it 

 is likewise so familiar as to enter the garden, orchard, or 

 premises near to the house, and shows but little alarm 

 on being approached. It is however by no means defi- 

 cient in courage, and like the larger true Falcons, often 

 makes a fatal and rapid sweep upon sparrows, or those 

 .small birds which are its accustomed prey. 



The female is 11 inches long, the stretch of the wings 23 inches. 

 The male about 9^ or 10 inches. The cere and legs are yellow. 

 The bill bluish-grey. Space round the eye greenish-blue. Iris, dark 

 hazel. The head bluish-ash ; crown, rufous ; 7 large black spots, 

 G of them curving, surround the head on a white ground. The whole 

 upper parts are of a reddish bay, striped transversely with dusky 

 brown ; the primary and secondary quills black, spotted on their inner 

 vanes with brownish- white. Lower parts pale yellowish white, mark- 

 ed with longitudinal spots of brown, except the chin, vent, and 

 thighs, which are white; the claws, black. — Note. The St. Do- 

 mingo bird appears to be a distinct species ; in it the spots on the 

 neck are round, and are wanting altogether at some periods of its 

 existence. 



