SPARROW-HAWK. 



RAPTORES. FALCONIDJE. 



PLATE VI. 



SPARROW-HAWK. 



Accipiter Fringillarius. (Will.) 



This well-known bird is commonly met with in all parts 

 of England in situations suited to it. It prefers wooded 

 country, interspersed with meadows and corn-fields, as in such 

 parts its favourite food abounds. The female Sparrow-Hawk 

 is much more frequently seen than the male, as she is of 

 bolder disposition, and seeks her food in the neighbourhood 

 of villages, in their gardens and hedgerows, where she is the 

 constant enemy of the sparrow race, and destroys them in 

 great numbers ; she will also take young or feeble pigeons 

 from the farm-yard. The male is in his habits much more 

 shy and retired, seldom approaching villages, but concealing 

 himself, in preference, in woods and copses ; in such localities 

 he seeks his prey, which consists of finches, buntings, 

 and blackbirds, also mice, cockchafers, and grasshoppers. 

 He is, however, sometimes bold enough in early morning, 

 when pressed by hunger, to attack the call-bird of the bird- 

 catcher. The bird represented in the plate, a male in perfect 

 adult plumage, was taken in this manner. In manners and 

 habits, as well as in appearance, the Sparrow-Hawk bears a 

 striking resemblance to the Goshawk. Like him the Sparrow- 

 Hawk takes his prey perching or. flying, or sweeps it from the 

 ground ; like him, also, he hides himself behind a bush to 

 devour his prey, being very jealous of observation. The 



