350 FALCO SPARVERIUS, SPARROW HAWK 



h, c, d, &c. 



For various races or conspecies. real or supposed, see especially RiDGW., Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. 1870, 147-149 ; and B. B. & R., N. A. B. iii. 1874, 166-1G8. 



JIah. — The whole of North America, aud southward. 



List of specimens. 



Lieutenant Warren. s Expedition. — 5172, 5177, Yellowstone River; 5175, Powder River; 

 5178, Fort Berthold ; , Farm Island, Missouri River. 



Later Expeditions.— mm'2, Colorado ; 6033(5-8, Wyoming ; 60G62, North Platte ; 62236-9, 

 Idaho. 



"The trees, of late so richly green, now disclose the fading tints of 

 autumn ; the cricket becomes mute, the grasshopper withers ou the 

 fences, the mouse retreats to her winter quarters ; dismal clouds obscure 

 the eastern horizon, the sun assumes a sickly dimness, hoar frosts cover 

 the ground, and the long night encroaches on the domains of light. No 

 longer are heard the feathered choristers of the woods, who throng to- 

 ward more congenial climes, and in their rear rushes the S})arrow 

 Hawk." So the great painter of Nature portrays the waning season, 

 graphic with pen as with pencil. The dying year may bring no dismay 

 to the intrepid little Hawk, but when its cold breath blows away the 

 delicate creatures that aftord his sustenance, i^erforce he follows after; 

 and once with us, braves all weathers aud lives in plenty. Few, if any, 

 of our birds are more widely dispersed, few are better known, and cer- 

 tainly no Hawk is regarded with less disfavor. Too small of frame — 

 though stout hearted enough, I warrant — to commit depredations in the 

 farm-yard 5 subsisting on small insectivorous birds, it is true, but also 

 destroying countless field-mice and noxious insects, he is to be held a 

 benefactor to the agriculturist. The prettiest and jauntiest of our 

 Hawks, and yet no prig ; a true Falcon, if a little one, with as noble 

 mien and as much ])luck as the best among his larger brethren, we can 

 but admire him. No Hawk is more abundant in the West. Go where 

 we may, in summer or winter, we shall before long see him hovering 

 over the fields, or perched, erect and motionless, on his outpost, sweep- 

 ing the groun<l below with keen, audacious eye. It is a treacherous 

 calm ; the ardor of the Falcon grows with restraint. An unlucky 

 Sparrow flirts in yonder bush, and gives a flip[)ant chirp — whisL ! and 

 it is all over. Poor, little, rollicking Sparrow! this is no easier for you 

 to bear, because it is a ''law of nature," as we say. Who is ever quite 

 ready for the last? What pang is taken away when the cry it extorts 

 is drowned in a sea of like lamentation f We theorize best before the 

 Falcon's talon strikes. 



The reader has doubtless stood, as I often have, in a thicket, peering 

 about in readiness to shoot some rare Warbler or Finch that he vainly 

 tries to discover amid the dense foliage. And not seldom — whish ! some- 

 thing flashes right by, twists with marvellous swiftness and address 

 through the tangled underwood, a cry of distress is heard, along with 

 an exultant scream, and the next moment a Sparrow Hawk glides out 

 from the thicket on the far side, bearing his quivering victim in his 

 claws, and makes straightway for the nearest stump or post to feast at 

 his leisure. As eager as we were, but keen-eyed and more skilful, he 

 snatched the i)rize himself, and his beak is already buried in its breast, 

 drinking warm blood. We inwardly wish we could punish the bold rob- 

 ber, but the splendid exhibition of his powers almost makes amends 



