BRITISH BIRDS. 35 



all the quills are marked with two or more large 

 white spots ; the breast, belly, and under coverts 

 of the wings and thighs are white, beautifully barred 

 with brown ; the throat is faintly streaked with 

 brown : legs and feet yellow ; claws black. 



The above is the description of a female : the 

 male differs both in size and colour : the upper part 

 of his body is of a dark lead colour, and the bars 

 on his breast are more numerous. 



The female builds her nest in hollow trees, high 

 rocks, or lofty ruins, sometimes in the old nest of a 

 crow, and generally lays four or five eggs spotted 

 with red at the thicker end. 



The Sparrow-hawk is very numerous in various 

 parts of the world, from Russia to the Cape of 

 Good Hope. It is a bold and spirited bird ; but is 

 obedient and docile, and can be easily trained to 

 hunt Partridges and Quails ; it makes great de- 

 struction among Pigeons, young poultry, and small 

 birds of all kinds, which it will attack and carry off 

 in the most daring manner. 





