AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 39 



rounded at the end, the latter slightly forked. Such essential 

 differences never take place between two individuals of the 

 same species. It ought, however, to be remarked, that in all 

 the figures and descriptions I have hitherto met with of the 

 bird now before us, the iris is represented of a bright golden 

 colour; but in all the specimens I have shot I uniformly found 

 the eye very dark, almost black, resembling a globe of black 

 glass. No doubt the golden colour of the iris would give the 

 figure of the bird a more striking appearance; but in works of 

 natural history to sacrifice truth to mere picturesque effect is 

 detestable; though, I fear, but too often put in practice. 



The nest of this species is usually built in a hollow tree; ge- 

 nerally pretty high up, where the top or a large limb has been 

 broken off. I have never seen its eggs; but have been told that 

 the female generally lays four or five, which are of a light 

 brownish yellow colour, spotted with a darker tint; the young 

 are fed on grasshoppers, mice, and small birds, the usual food 

 of the parents. 



The habits and manners of this bird are well known. It flies 

 rather irregularly, occasionally suspending itself in the air, ho- 

 vering over a particular spot for a minute or two, and then 

 shooting off in another direction. It perches on the top of a 

 dead tree, or pole in the middle of a field or meadow, and as it 

 alights shuts its long wings so suddenly that they seem instant- 

 ly to disappear; it sits here in an almost perpendicular position, 

 sometimes for an hour at a time, frequently jerking its tail, and 

 reconnoitering the ground below, in every direction, for mice, 

 lizards, &c. It approaches the farm-house, particularly in the 

 morning, skulking about the barn-yard for mice or young 

 chickens. It frequently plunges into a thicket after small birds, 

 as if by random; but always with a particular, and generally a fa- 

 tal, aim. One day I observed a bird of this species perched on 

 the highest top of a large poplar, on the skirts of the wood; and 

 was in the act of raising the gun to my eye when he swept 

 down with the rapidity of an arrow into a thicket of briars 

 about thirty yards off; where I shot him dead; and on coming 



