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THE AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK 



Falco sparverius, Linn. 



PLATE CXLII. Male and Female. 



We have few more beautiful hawks in the United States than this 

 active httle species, and I am sure, none half so abundant. It is found 

 in every district from Louisiana to Maine, as well as from the Atlantic 

 shores to the western regions. Every one knows the Sparrow-Hawk, the 

 very mention of its name never fails to bring to mind some anecdote con- 

 nected with its habits, and, as it commits no depredations on poultry, few 

 disturb it, so that the natural increase of the species experiences no check 

 from man. During the winter months especially it may be seen in the 

 Southern States about every old field, orchard, barn-yard, or kitchen-gar- 

 den, but seldom indeed in the interior of the forest. 



Beautifully erect, it stands on the highest fence-stake, the broken top 

 of a tree, the summit of a grain stack, or the corner of the barn, patiently 

 and silently waiting until it spy a mole, a field-mouse, a cricket, or a 

 grasshopper, on which to pounce. If disappointed in its expectation, it 

 leaves its stand and removes to another, flying low and swiftly until with- 

 in a few yards of the spot on which it wishes to alight, when all of a sud- 

 den, and in the most graceful manner, it rises towards it and settles with 

 incomparable firmness of manner, merely suffering its beautiful tail to 

 vibrate gently for a while, its wings being closed with the swiftness of 

 thought. Its keen eye perceives something beneath, when down it darts, 

 secures the object in its talons, returns to its stand, and devours its prey 

 piece by piece. This done, the little hunter rises in the air, describes a few 

 circles, moves on directly, balances itself steadily by a tremulous motion 

 of its wings, darts towards the earth, but, as if disappointed, checks it 

 course, reascends and proceeds. Some unlucky finch crosses the field be- 

 neath it. The Hawk has marked it, and, anxious to secure its prize, 

 sweeps after it •, the chase is soon ended, for the poor affrighted and pant- 

 ing bird becomes the prey of the ruthless hunter, who, unconscious of 

 wrong, carries it off to some elevated branch of a tall tree, plucks it neatly, 

 tears the flesh asunder, and having eaten all that it can pick, allows the 



