174 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Maine to California, though it is rare in a large portion of the New England 

 States. It is, however, quite abundant in the vicinity of Calais, Me., in 

 New Brunswick, and in Nova Scotia, though less abundant about Halifax. 

 It has not been taken, or if so only very rarely, in Eastern Massachusetts, 

 though it has been known to breed in Williamstown and Amherst, in the 

 western part of the State. It is equally rave in Ehode Island and in Con- 

 necticut. Dr. Woods, of East Hartford, knew of a pair which entered a 

 dove-cot in that place, destroyed its inmates, and laid four eggs. They 

 connnitted so many depredations on the neighbors' chickens that they were 

 shot. 



Mr. Eidgway found this species exceedingly abundant in all portions of 

 the West. In the caiions of the East Humboldt Mountains it was observed 

 to have nests in holes on the faces of the limestone cliffs. 



The Sparrow Hawk is a bird of irregular flight, now momentarily hover- 

 ing over a particular spot, suspending itself in the air, and then shooting off 

 in another direction. At other times it may be seen perched on the top of a 

 dead tree, or on a projecting branch, sitting there in an almost perpendicular 

 position for an hour or more at a time. It frequently jerks its tail, and 

 appears to be reconnoitring the ground below for small birds, mice, or liz- 

 ards, on which it chiefly preys. When it alights, it closes its long wings so 

 suddenly that, according to Wilson, they seem to disappear. It often ap- 

 jjroaches the farm-house early in the morning, skulking about the barnyard 

 in pursuit of mice, and occasionally of young chickens. Frequently it 

 plunges into a thicket, as if at random, but always with an object in view, 

 and with a sure and fatal aim. 



Wilson once observed one of this species perched on the highest top of a 

 large poplar, and, just as he was about to take aim, it swept down with the 

 rapidity of an arrow into a thicket of briers, where he shot it, and found a 

 small Field Sparrow qui\'ering in its grasp. It is said to be fond of watch- 

 ing along hedge-roAvs and in orchards, where small birds usually resort. 

 When grasshoppers are plentiful, they form the jirincipal part of its food. 

 The young are fed with the usual food of the parents, — mice, small birds, 

 grasshoppers, etc. It also feeds upon small snakes, but rarely, if ever, touches 

 anything that it has not itself killed, and has been known to reject its prey 

 wlien, after having been killed, it proved to be in unsuitable condition for food. 



Mr. Audubon states that the flight of this species is never protracted. It 

 seldom flies far at a time ; a few hundred yards are all the distance it usually 

 goes before alighting. It rarely sails long on the wing at a time ; a half-hour 

 is its utmost extent. In pursuing a bird, it flies with great rapidity, but 

 never with the speed of the Sharp-shinned and other Hawks. Its cry is so 

 similar to that of the Kestrel of Europe that it might be readily mistaken 

 for it but for its stronger intonation. At times it gives out these notes as it 

 perches, but they are principally uttered while on the wing. Mr. Audubon 

 has heard them imitate the feeble cries of their offspring, when these have 

 left the nest and are following their parents. 



