426 BIRDS — FALCONID^. 



erous black bars ; Tiring coverts in the male ashy-bine, with or without black spots, in 

 the female like the back ; quills in both sexes blackish with numerona pale or white 

 bars on inner webs; tail chestnut, in the male with one broad black subterminal bar, 

 white tip, and outer feather mostly white with several black bars ; in the female the 

 whole tail with numerous imperfect black bars ; below white variously tinged with buff, 

 or tawny, in the male with a few small black spots or none, in the fenftile with many 

 brown streaks ; throat and vent nearly white and immaculate in both sexes ; bill dark- 

 horn, cere and feet yellow to bright orange ; 10-11 ; wing, 7 ; tail, 5, more or less. 



Habitat, the whole of North America and southward. 



Abundant summer resident from April to November, and in part resi- 

 dent throughout the year. ' 



This Hawk, the smallest and most beautiful of the family, is further 

 distinguished from most if not all the others by the color differences 

 between the sexes. It is the most abundant species of the family, and 

 does not appear to be decreasing with cultivation, as is the case with 

 most others. It is found almost everywhere, though most abundantly 

 along the borders of streams where the high sycamore trees furnish 

 suitable nesting places, or about low fields. The telegraph wires along 

 railroads furnish favorite perches from which they may watch for and 

 pounce upon small birds, mice and large insects, which constitute their 

 food. 



Dr. Coues, from whom I have culled many pleasant paragraphs, thus 

 moralizes over the Sparrow Hawk : 



"Few, if any, of our birds are more widely dispersed, few are better known, and cer- 

 tainly no Hawk is regarded with less disfavor. Too small of frame — though stout 

 hearted enough, I warrant — to commit depredations in the farm-yard ; subsisting on 

 small insectivorous birds, it is true, but also destroying couutlessfield-mice and noxious 

 insects, he is to be held a benefactor to the agriculturist. The prettiest and jauntiest of 

 our Hawks, and yet no prig ; a true Falcon, if a little one, with as noble mien and as 

 much pluck as the best among his larger brethren, we can but admire him. No Hawk 

 is more abundant in the West. Go where we may, in summer or winter, we shall see 

 Mm hovering over the fields, or perched, erect and motionless, on his outpost, sweeping 

 the ground below with keen, audacious eye. It is a treacherous calm ; the ardor of the 

 Falcon grows with restraint. An unlucky Sparrowjflirts in yonder bush, and gives a 

 flippant chirp — whish! and it is all over. Poor, little, rollicking Sparrow! this is no 

 easier for you to bear, because it is a "law of nature," as we say. Who is ever quite 

 ready for the last t What pang is taken away when the cry it extorts is drowned in a 

 sea'of like lamentation ? We theorize best before the Falcon's talon strikes." 



Solitary individuals, and these, so far as my observation extends, always 

 females, are not unfrequently seen here throughout the winter, remain- 

 ing in the same neighborhood through the season. 



The nest of the Sparrow Hawk is placed in cavities of high trees, either 

 natural or holes deserted by Woodpeckers. The eggs, usually five in 



