30 THE SPARROW HAWK. 



smaller than the northern birds, that he was at first inclined to 

 consider them specifically distinct, but finally felt sure they were 

 the same. The colors, as usual in other species, are generally 

 brighter in the more Southern examples." It also inhabits Cuba, 

 and has frequently been met with at other points to the southward 

 as far as the Straits of Magellan. In California, Dr. Cooper 

 describes this species as a constant resident, " frequenting chiefly 

 the plains, and feeding on grasshoppers, mice, gophers, etc." He 

 also notices its habit of frequenting the holes of Woodpeckers, in 

 which it builds a nest. 



The Sparrow Hawk arrives in Canada in April, but is most 

 numerous in the early part of May. It breeds in many parts 

 of the Island of Montreal. 



Sp. Char. AJuU. Frontal band and space, including eyes and throat, white; a spot on 

 the neck behind, two others on each side of neck, and a line running down from before the eye, 

 black ; spot on the top of the head and upper parts behind neck, light rufous or cinnamon ; unJer 

 parts generally, pale rufous, frequently nearly white, with numerous circular oblong black spots ; 

 quills brownish-black, with white bars on their inner webs ; tail tipped with white, and with a 

 broad subterminal black band ; back generally with transverse bars of black, but they are freciuently 

 very few or wanting ; rufous spot on the heal, variable in size, sometimes wanting. 



Younger Male. Similar, but with the wing coverts, and tail ferruginous red, with numerous 

 transverse bands of brownish-black ; beneath with longitudinal stripes, and on the sides with trans- 

 verse bands of brownish-black, external tail feathers palest ; the broad subterminal black band 

 obscure or wanting. 



Young. With all the rufous parts of the plumage more widly banded with brownish-black ; 

 wing coverts dark bluish cincereous, with large circular spots of black ; beneath with longitudinal 

 stripes and large circular black spots. 



Length, lo.oo to 12.00 ; extent, 19.00 to 22.00 ; wing, 7.00 to S.oo ; tail, 5.00 to 5.50. 



The iris is a dark-brown, nci>er yello^o ; bill, blue, black at tip ; feet, orange ; claws, black. 



