1 
300 AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK.—FALCO SPARVERICS.— 
Fie. 146. — Mate. 
Lite Hawk, Arct. Zool. 211, No. 110.—Emerillon de Cayenne, Buf. i. 291. 
Pl. enl. No. 444. — Lath. i. 110.— Peale’s Museum, No. 340. 
FALCO SPARVERIUS, — Linnzvs. 
Falco sparverius, Bonup. Synop. p. 27. —Falco sparverius, Little Rusty-crowned 
: . Falcon, North. Zool. ii. p. 31. 
Tue female of this species has been already figured and described 
at page 171 of this work. As they differ considerably in the mark- 
ings of their plumage, the male is introduced here, (Fig. 146.) 
The male Sparrow Hawk measures about ten inches in length, and 
twenty-one in extent; the whole upper parts of the head are of a fine 
slate blue, the shafts of the plumage being black, the crown excepted, 
which is marked with a spot of bright rufous; the slate tapers to a 
point on each side of the neck; seven black spots surround the head, 
as in the female, on a reddish white ground, which also borders each 
sloping side of the blue; front, lores, line over and under the eye, 
cheveches ne se font pas reconnaitre tres nettement des chouettes.” The Snowy 
Owl feeds by day, as well as by night, and is much more active than the night- 
feeding birds ; it approaches nearer to the Hawk Owls. The head is less ; the tail 
and wings, elongated ; and the plumage is more compact and rigid. It appears to 
_extend as far north in America as any inhabited country, and is found in the coldest 
districts of Europe. It is also mentioned by Pennant to reach beyond the Asiatic 
frontier to the hot latitude of Astracan, (a contrast, if it should turn out the same 
species,) and was discovered to breed in Orkney and Shetland by Mr. Bullock, 
who procured several specimens. Its visits to the mainland of Britain are, again, 
more rare ; indeed, I believe one of the only instances on record is that of a male 
and female killed near Rothbury, in Northumberland, in January, 1823, — a winter 
remarkable for a severe snow-storm. They were killed on an open moor, in a 
wild and rocky part of the country, and were generally seen perched upon the 
snow, or upon some ine stone projecting from it. Bothnow form beautiful speci- 
mens in the collection of Mr. Selby. 
They become very familiar in winter, approaching close to the dwellings of the 
Indians. In Lapland, they are shot with ball when hunting after moles and lem- 
mings ; and in that country, like many other Owls, they are looked upon with su- 
perstition. They utter a sound at night, when perched, like the grunting of pigs, 
which, by the common and uninformed people, is ie to be some apparition or 
spectre. By Hearne the Snow Owl is said to be known to watch the Grouse 
shooters a whole day, for the purpose of sharing in the spoil. On such occasions, 
it perches on a high tree, and when a bird is shot, skims down, and carries it off 
before the sportsman can get near it. We have the following remarks by Dr. 
Richardson, in the Northern Zoology : —‘‘ Frequents most of the arctic lands that 
have been visited, but retires with the Ptarmigan, on which it preys, to more shel- 
tered districts in winter; hunts by day. When I have seen it on the barren 
grounds, it was generally squatting on the earth; and if put up, it alighted in 
after a short flight, but was always so wary as to be approached with difficulty. 
In woody districts, it shows less caution. have seen it pursue the American 
hare on the wing, making repeated strokes at the animal with its feet. In winter, 
when this Ow] is fat, the Indians and white residents in the Fur Countries esteem 
it to be good eating. Its flesh is delicately white.” By the Cree Indians it is 
called Wapow-keethoo, or Wapahoo; by the Esquin.. ux, op ic age by the 
Norwegians, Lemensgrtts and Gysfugl ; by the Swedes Harfang. — Ep. 
