AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 301 
chin, and throat, white ; femoral and vent-feathers, yellowish white; 
the rest of the lower parts, of the same tint, each feather being 
streaked down the centre with a long black drop; those on the breast, 
slender, on the sides, larger; upper part of the back and scapulars, 
deep reddish bay, marked with ten or twelve transverse waves of 
black; whole wing-coverts and ends of the secondaries, bright slate, 
spotted with black; primaries and upper half of the secondaries, 
black, tipped with white, and spotted on their inner vanes with the 
same ; lower part of the back, the rump, and_tail-coverts, plain bright 
bay ; tail rounded, the ‘two ‘exterior feathers white, their inner vanes 
beautifully spotted with black; the next, bright bay, with.a broad 
band of black near its end, and tipped for half an inch with yellowish 
white ; part of its lower exterior edge, white, spotted with black, and 
its opposite interior edge, touched with white; the whole of the others 
are very deep red bay, with a single, broad band of black near the 
end, and tipped with yellowish white; cere and legs, yellow; orbits, 
the same ;, bill, light blue; iris of the eye, dark, almost black; claws, 
blue black. * ; : 
The character of this corresponds ‘with that.of the female, given at 
large in page 171. I have reason, however, to believe, that these 
birds vary considerably in the color and markings of their plumage 
during the first and second years; having met with specimens every 
way corresponding with the above, except in the breast, which was a 
plain rufous white, without spots ; the markings on the tail also differing 
a little in differentspecimens. These I uniformly found, on dissection, 
to be males; from the stomach of one of which I took a considerable 
part of the carcass of a Robin, (Turdus migratorius,) including the 
unbroken feet and claws ; though the Robin aqtually measures within 
half an inch as long as the Sparrow Hawk.* 
* Bonaparte has separated the small American Falcons from the larger kinds, 
characterizing the group as having the wings shorter than the tail, tarsi scutellated ; 
and Mr. Swainson says, that the group seems natural, differinggsomewhat in their 
manners from the larger Falcons, and having analogies in their habits to the Shrikes. 
‘With both these we agree. It is long tee we thought the general form and 
_ habits of our Common Kestrel — analogous to Wilson’s bird in urope — differed 
from those of the true Falcons, as much, certainly, as Astur-does from Accipiter, 
and both should be orily by subordinate divisions. The manner of suspending itself 
in the air is exactly similar to that of our Windhover ; and I am not aware that this 
peciliar manner of hunting is made use of by any other of the Falconidce, with the 
exception of the Kestrels, that is, those of Europe or Africa, F’. rupicola, tinuncu- 
loides, &c. The true Falcons survey the ground by extensive sweeps, or a rapid 
tig, and stoop at once on their prey with the velocity and force of lightning ; the 
others.quietly watch their quarry when suspended or perched on a bare eminence 
or tree in the manner described, and take it by surprise. Insects, reptiles, and 
small animals form part of their food ; and to the old falconists they were Known 
by the name of “Ignoble.” The whole of the Kestrels are very familiar, easily 
tamed, and when in confinement become even playful. Their greet breeding place 
is steep rocks, clothed with ivy, and fringed with the various wild plants incident to 
the different climes ; in the chinks and ‘hearts of these they nestle, often in security 
from any clamberer that has not the assistance of a rope; though the appearance 
of a stranger immediately calls forth peculiarly shrill and timid notes of alarm. 
When the young are hatched, and partly advanced, they may be seen stretching out 
from their fole 3 and, on the appearance of their parent, mutual greetings are heard, 
and in a tone at. once different from those before mentioned. Our native species, 
in addition to rocks, delights in ruined buildings as a breeding place ; and it is re- 
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