THE SPARROW-HAWK. 



It might be supposed, from the name of this bird, that sparrows were its only or fav- 

 ourite game. But though it shows its daring cliaracter by approaching houses in pursuit 

 of them, it is a general and successful destroyer. 



The male is one-fifth less than the female, the length of which is about fifteen niches. 

 The female is, however, a more compact and powerful bird, and her additional weight 

 is much greater than in proportion to her length. The upper parts of the male are 

 bluish ash-colour, its tliroat and chest rufous, breaking into obscure bars ; the tarsi 

 yellow, and the beak black. The upper surface of the female is of a browner tmge than 

 in the male, and the throat and under parts are white. The former have small longi- 

 tudinal dashes of reddish brown, the latter regular transverse bars of the same colour. 

 They build in thick bushes and low trees, sometimes fonning a rude structure of twigs 

 for themselves, and sometimes making use of the nest of some Ijird that breeds earher. 



Like all ra[)acious liirds, the sparrow-hawk is most destructive during the breeding 

 season. A great (piantity of remauis of ]>artridges, wood-pigeons, and small Iiirds has 

 been found about their nests ; though it is difficult to understand how so small a l)ird can 

 convey a wood-pigeon to its yoimg ones. Supposing either male or female si)arrow-hawk 

 to be killed during the time of incubation, the survivor immediately finds a new mate, 

 who goes on with the duties of the last bird, whatever stage of the business is being 

 carried on at the time, whether sitting on the eggs or rearing the yoimg. 



" Not content," says a naturalist, " with the partridges and other ferce. natures, this 

 bold little freebooter invades tlie poultry-yard. The hens scream, the ducks ([uack, and 

 i-ush to the cover of the plantations ; whilst the tame pigeons dart to and fro amongst 

 ilio buildings, but in vain. The sjiarrow-hawk darts like an arrow after one of the latter 



• Accipitur Nisiis. — Linn. 



