FALCO SPARVERIUS : SPARROW HAWK. 1 19 



with numerous black bars ; wing coverts in the male ashy-blue, 

 with or without black spots, in the female like the back ; quills in 

 both sexes blackish with numerous pale or white bars on the 

 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 male the whole tail with numerous im- 

 perfect black bars ; below white, variously tinged with buff, or 

 tawny, in the male with a few black spots or none, in the fe- 

 male with many brown streaks ; throat and vent nearly white 

 and immaculate in both sexes ; bill dark horn, cere and feet 

 yellow to bright orange. Length, lo.oo-il.oo ; wing, 7.00 ; tail, 

 5.00, more or less. 



This elegant little Hawk will be immediately recog- 

 nized by its small size, and 

 entirely peculiar coloration, 

 although the plumage varies 

 almost interminably. It is a 

 common New England bird, 

 and resident, though less 

 numerous in winter than at 

 other seasons. It is also 

 somewhat locally distributed. *"'°- ^3— sparrow hawk. 

 Thus, I have found it to be quite abundant in the 

 vicinity of Amherst, where nests are found nearly 

 every year, and specimens are frequently procured. 

 As far as I can ascertain, it builds no nest, but lays 

 its eggs in the hollow of a tree, usually twenty or 

 thirty feet from the ground, or even more. Dr. Wood 

 has described a novel site chosen by a pair at Granby, 

 Connecticut, who attacked and killed a pair of doves, 

 took possession of the dove-house, which was inside a 

 barn with holes leading outward, and made themselves 

 quite at home ; they laid four eggs, and began to incu- 

 bate, with the evident intention of feeding on the farmer's 



