234 TINNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS — SPARROW HAWK. 



ered as an injurious bird, but rather the contrary, as it 

 feeds on mice, small snakes, crickets, grasshoppers and 

 other insects, and occasionally small birds. In its wild 

 state, it has never been observed to attack poultry however 

 young, although a specimen in the possession oT Audubon 

 lost its life by attacking a brood of chickens, the old hen 

 putting him horse du comhat. 



In selecting a place for their nest, the birds usually take 

 possession of the deserted hole of a woodpecker. The eggs 

 are from five to seven, of a nearly round form; color, deep 

 buff, covered with blotches of brown and black. Some- 

 times there are two broods in a season, but we do not know 

 that this occurs in Ohio. Both parents assist in the work 

 of incubation, and are active in i^roviding for the wants of 

 their young family. In their general habits, they are more 

 amiable than other Hawks, are easily tamed, and exhibit 

 considerable attachment. They occasionally winter in this 

 State. 



In size the male and female are nearly alike. The adult 

 male has a white frontal band, with a spot on the back of 

 the neck, and two others on the side of the neck, and a 

 line running from the eye downwards black. Upper part 

 of the head bluish lead colored, with a spot of light reddish. 

 Back of the neck and back, down to the middle of the tail, 

 light reddish. Wing coverts bluish lead colored, with black 

 spots; quills brownish black, barred with white on the 

 inner webs. Under parts paleish red, approaching in many 

 specimens to white, spotted with circular and oblong black 

 markings. Tail with a broad band of black, often tipped 

 with white, sometimes the outer feathers are ash colored, 

 with black bars. Bill blue ; feet and legs yellow. The wing 

 coverts of the female are rusty red, with numerous cross 

 bars of brownish black; tail the same. Under side with 

 many longitudinal stripes of blackish, and cross bars of 

 the same on the tibia. The red spot on the head, in 

 many specimens of both sexes, is sometimes very obscure. 



