20 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



states, but in those localities it is the most abundant of 

 the birds of prey. I can add but little to Wilson's descrip- 

 tion that will be of interest : it is as follows : — 



" The habits and manners of this bird are well known. It flies 

 rather irregularly, occasionally suspending itself in the air, hover- 

 ing over a particular spot for a minute or two, and then shooting 

 off in another direction. It perches on the top of a dead tree or 

 pole, in the middle of a field or meadow, and, as it alights, shuts its 

 long wings so suddenly that they seem instantly to disappear : it 

 sits here in an almost perpendicular position, sometimes for an hour 

 at a time, frequently jerking its tail, and reconnoitring the ground 

 below, in every direction, for mice, 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 by random, but always with a 

 particular, and generally a fatal aim. One day I observed a bird 

 of this species perched on the highest top of a large poplar, on 

 the skirts of the wood, and was in the act of raising the gun tq 

 my eye, vrhen he swept down, with the rapidity of an arrow, into a 

 thicket of briers, about thirty yards off, where I shot him dead, 

 and, on coming up, found a small field-sparrow quivering in his 

 grasp. Both our aims had been taken in the same instant ; and, 

 unfortunately for him, both were fatal. It is particularly fond of 

 watching along hedge-rows and in orchards, where small birds 

 usually resort. When grasshoppers are plenty, they form a con- 

 siderable part of its food. 



