Birds of Prey. 



W-}'-^\ 



The Sparrow-Hawk. 



nesting are also 

 similar to those 

 of the European 

 bird. 



THE 

 SPARROW-HAWK 



lAccipiler nistis) 



Differs from 

 the Gos-Hawks 

 in being- much 

 smaller, and in 

 having a smaller 

 bill and longer 

 toes. The adult 

 male is rufous 

 below, and the female is barred underneath, but has a large tuft of rufous down on 

 the i^anks. It is found everywhere throughout Europe and Northern Asia, and 

 inhabits the wooded districts of Great Britain, but is subject to constant persecution 

 at the hands of game-keepers, and many are shot down. There is no doubt that the 

 Sparrow-Hawk does considerable damage among the young game-birds during the 

 hatchmg season, but at other times of the year it feeds on mice and rats, and also 

 largely on small birds which it captures by surprise. It is an object of detestation to 

 the latter, who never fail to mob one of these 

 Hawks when it appears in the open. The nest 

 is a somewhat bulkv structure of sticks and is 

 constructed by the birds themselves. The eggs 

 are often very handsome, being three or four in 

 number, greenish-white with reddish brown or 

 chestnut markings, and some beautiful varieties 

 are sometimes found with the red blotches col- 

 lected near the larger end of the egg. 



In Buzzards the tibia is 

 much longer than the tarsus, 

 not equal to the latter, as 

 ill the Harriers and Short- 

 winged Hawks. They have a stout and power- 

 ful foot and have the hinder aspect of the tarsus 

 transversely plated, not reticulated. Although 

 resembling an Eagle in appearance, the Buzzard 

 is alwavs a smaller bird, and is much more 



THE COMMON 

 BUZZARD. 



{Butco biiteo.) 



'y-^ 

 ^^^ 



\ 



Tut Common Blvzakd. 



8* 



