AVES—HAWK. 155 
Of the buzzard, kite, and falcon kind, above seventy different species, 
foreign and domestic, have been enumerated. Of all these the na ure and 
properties are nearly the same, and the description we have given of the 
jer-falcon, will apply to most of the hawk species, only differing in size and 
other minuter particulars ; and that of the buzzard to the kites in general, 
with the same allowance. Of the foreign birds of these species, some are 
crested, and others have plumage differing from those of Europe. 
THE AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK! 

1S a constant resident in almost every part of the United States, particularly 
in the states north of Maryland. The habits and manners of this bird are 
well known. It flies rather irregularly. It perches on the top of a dead 
tree or pole in the middle of a field; and sits there in an almost perpendicu- 
lar position, sometimes for an hour at a time, frequently jerking its tail, 
and reconnoitering the ground below, in every direction, for mice and 
lizards, &c. It approaches the farmhouse 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 at random, but, always witha 
particular and generally a fatal aim. 
Though small snakes, mice, and lizards, be favorite morsels with this 
active bird, yet we are not to suppose it altogether destitute of delicacy in 
feeding. It will seldom or never eat of any thing that it has not itself killed ; 
and even that, if not in good eating order, is sometimes rejected. A very 
respectable friend informs me, says Wilson, that one morning he observed 

1 Falco sparverius, Lin. 
