Falco Sparverius, Lixn,«us. 



THE SPARROW HAWK. 

 PLATE V. 



The species figured on this plate is the smallest, most beauti- 

 ful, and perhaps the best known of the whole family ; in fact so 

 universal is its diffusion and so commonly is it met with, that I 

 need do little but present its photograph. Its habitat is the entire 

 continent of America, and it nests in every section between the 

 fur countries and Mexico. Small as this bird is it is nevertheless 

 a true falcon, and is possessed of great courage and audacity. 

 In Canada we have met with it everywhere and on every expedi- 

 tion during each month between April and November. Accord- 

 ing to Richardson it breeds in considerable numbers on the banks 

 of the Saskatchewan in the neighbourhood of Carlton House, 

 arriving there in the month of April, laying its eggs about the 

 middle of May, and retiring southward on the approach of winter. 

 It does not appear to be a very northern species, as Ross of the 

 McKenzie river district gives it as " North to Lapierre's House. 

 Rather rare ;" and Richardson states that " It was not observed 

 on the route of the expedition beyond the fifty-fourth degree of 

 latitude." It has been asserted by more than one writer, that the 

 Sparrow Hawk seems never to build a nest for itself, but occupies 

 the holes made by Woodpeckers, abandoned Crows' nests, and in 

 some instances a dove-cote. This is simply absurd, as most 

 of our Canadian field collector's know that it is by no means 

 an unusual occurrence to find it occupying a nest of its own 

 construction, to which the same pair of birds return yearly. I 

 have seen its nest placed in the hollow at the end of a birch 

 tree, that had been broken off some ten or twelve feet from the 

 ground, and which also contained the nest of the Red-headed 

 Woodpecker. The entrance to the Woodpecker's abode was only 

 seven or eight inches beneath the base of the Hawk's nest. This 

 tree was cut down, and the portion containing both nests kept. 

 The Hawk's nest was constructed of twigs, moss, marsh-grass, and 



