228 LAWSON'S HISTORY 



The falcon is much the same as in Europe, and 

 promises to be a brave bird, though I never had 

 any of them in my hand ; neither did I ever see 

 any of them in any other posture than on the wing, 

 which always happened to be in an evening, and 

 flying to the westward ; therefore, I believe they 

 have their abode and nest among the mountains, 

 where we may expect to find them, and several 

 other species that we are at present strangers to. 



The merlin is a small bird in Europe, but much 

 smaller here, yet he very nimbly kills the smaller 

 sorts of birds, and sometimes the partridge; if 

 caught alive, he would be a great rarity, because 

 of his beauty and smallness. 



The sparrow hawk in Carolina is no bigger than 

 a fieldfare in England. He flies at the bush and 

 sometimes kills a small bird, but his chiefest food 

 is reptiles, as beetles, grass hoppers, and such 

 small things. He is exactly of the same color, as 

 the sparrow hawk in England, only has a blackish 

 hood by his eyes. 



Hobbies are the same here as in England, and 

 are not often met withal. 



The Ringtail is a short-winged hawk, preying 

 on mice and such vermin e in the marshes, as in 

 England. 



Ravens, the same as in England, though very 

 few. I have not seen above six in eight years' 

 time. 



Crows are here less than in England. They 

 are as good meat as a pigeon, and never feed on 



