Used in 
Falconry. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Female 
Bird. 
34 RAPACES. FALCO. Hawks. 
milar to that of the Ring Dove, but rather larger. It will 
occasionally occupy the deserted nest of a Crow. 
The eggs are from four to six in number, of a skim-milk 
white, blotched at the larger end with reddish-brown. In 
the Orkney Islands, where it is abundant, it breeds in the 
rocks and sea cliffs. Mr Low, in his Fauna Orcad. mentions 
a combat that he witnessed between the Sparrow Hawk and 
the Short-eared Owl, and which terminated in the defeat of 
the latter. During the time these birds have young, the de- 
predations they commit upon game, and the small feathered 
tribe, are very great. Ina nest containing five young ones, 
I found a Lapwing, two Blackbirds, a Thrush, and two 
Green Linnets, recently killed, and partly divested of their 
feathers. 
The Sparrow Hawk is very widely diffused, and found in 
all parts of Europe. 
In the days of Falconry it was trained, and much appro- 
ved in the pursuit of partridges, quails, and many other 
birds. 
In rearing the young of this species, care should be taken 
to separate them very early, otherwise the female birds, be- 
ing superior in size, and stronger, are sure to destroy and de- 
vour the males, as I have repeatedly found, when they were 
kept caged together. 
Prate 13. A female of the natural size. Bill bluish-grey, 
the tip black. Cere lemon-yellow. Irides gamboge- 
yellow. Crown of the head and upper parts of the 
body blackish-grey, passing into clove-brown. Above the 
eye, (which is defended by a large bony projection), is 
an indistinct line of white, which also encircles the nape 
of the neck. Under parts white, undulated with black 
or brewnish-black bars. Quills greyish-black, the exte- 
rior webs with darker bars. Base and margin of the 
inner webs barred with white. ‘Tail clove-brown, with 
broad brownish-black bars, the tip white. Legs and 
