260 SPARROW HAWK. Class II. 



with a rusty red : the qui! feathers are 

 dusky, barred with black on their exterior webs,, 

 and spotted with white on the lower part of 

 their inner webs : the tail is of a deep ash color 

 marked with five broad black bars, the tip 

 white : the breast and belly are of a whitish 

 yellow, adorned with transverse waved bars ; in 

 some of a deep brown color, in others orange. 

 The cere, irides, and legs yellow. The colors 

 I'jiMALE. of the female differ from those of the male: the 

 head is of a deep brown ; the back, and co- 

 verts of the wings, are dusky mixed with dove 

 color ; the coverts of the tail of a brighter dove 

 color ; the waved lines which cross the breast, 

 are more numerous than those on that of the 

 male ; and the breast itself of a purer white. 

 Makners. This is the most pernicious hawk we have ; 

 and makes great havoke among pigeons, as well 

 as partridges. It builds in hollow trees, in old 

 nests of crows, large ruins, and high rocks : lays 

 four white egs;s, encircled near the blunter end 

 with red specks. Mr. IVillughby places this 

 among the short-winged hawks ; or such whose 

 wings, when closed, fall short of the end of the 

 tail. 



" The sparrow hawk, as well as the hobby, 

 was formerly used in Falconry. A beautiful 

 variety, wholly white, is in the collection of 

 General Denies." J. L. 



