OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 251 



scarcely changing its position. While reconnoitring the 

 ground below tor food, it has the peculiar habit of jerking 

 its tail, as if over-anxious for something to turn up. When 

 alighting, its long wings are so suddenly closed, that the 

 movement is almost irriperceptible. After remaining sta- 

 tionary for a greater or less period of time, it starts off quite 

 suddenly from its perch, apparently at random, but always 

 in quest of something which its keen eye has discovered in 

 the distance, and generally with a certain and deadly aim. It 

 is a common denizen of orchards and hedge-rows, attracted 

 thither by the abundance of small birds which resort to such 

 places. 



The food of this species consists of small quadrupeds, 

 small birds, lizards, and insects chiefly of an orthopterous 

 character. The following animals constitute a portion of 

 its bill of fare : 3fus musculus, yacuhts hudsonius, Hes- 

 peromysleucopus^Arvicola Gappcn\A. riparia. Pteromys 

 voliicel/a, Tamias striatiis^ and other rodents ; Sialia sla- 

 //.s\ Tiirdus migrator ins. T. imistelinus* Hdrporkynchus 

 rufus. Minius carolinensis, Sitta carolinensis, Ampelis 

 ccdrorum, and many of the Sylvicolidce and JPringillidcc 

 among birds. The partiality which it manifests for our 

 common Sparrows, as evidenced by the immense numbers 

 which it destroys, frequenting places where these do most 

 congregate, has given it the familiar appellation which it 

 bears. Lizards, particularly Tropidolepi* uudiilatus. and 

 the beautiful little Sccloporus. are esteemed great luxuries. 

 Immense numbers of insects, mostly orthoptera, are de- 

 stroyed, especially during the breeding-period, and constitute 

 the chief part of the diet of both young and old. The prin- 

 cipal are Cyntophyllus concants. Phylloptera oblofigifolia^ 

 Phaneroptera cnr-cicauda, (JZdipoda Carolina. CK. ticbn- 

 losa, (IE. sulphurea* Caloptenns fciiiur-rnbruni. Ac/tcta 

 >ii-ra. (Hcajitlnix iiraciis, GrvUofalpa borea/is, among 

 grasshoppers ; and Lucantts dauia, Prioims 



