THE SPARROW-HAWK. 



Accipiter fringillarius. WILLOUGHBT. 

 PLATE IX. 



Accipiter fringillarius, Wiltoughby and Ray Falco nisus, 

 Linnceus. Sparrow Hawk of Brit, authors. 



THE Sparrow-hawk, next to the Kestre) is the 

 most abundant of the British birds of prey, 

 inhabiting all the woodland and more cultivated 

 parts of our islands ; while it is also, though 

 more sparingly, met with in the wilder districts, 

 and extends its range to the Hebrides, in which 

 it varies its usual habits, and breeds on the rocky 

 precipices on the coast. Common in the enclosed 

 and wooded parts of Ireland, and known to 

 breed on trees only.* Woods of considerable 

 extent are its most favourite retreats, where it 

 can make excursions, and return either to the 

 nest or its roosting place. Its form allows it to 

 glide with rapidity among the trunks of the trees, 

 and in the thicket, and the ample tail may be 

 seen constantly employed in guiding its direc- 



W. Thomp. Mag. of Zool. and Dot. ii. p. 171. 



