CrassIl SPARROW HAWK. 
female is fifteen inches long; in breadth twenty- 
fix. ae 
Thefe birds, as well as the hawk kind in general, 
vary greatly in their colors; in fome, the back, 
head, coverts of the wings and tail, are of a deep 
bluifh grey ; in others of a deep brown, edged with 
arufty red: the quil feathers are dusky, barred 
with black on their exterior webs, and fpotted with 
white on the lower part of their inner webs: the tail 
is of a deep afh color marked with fine broad 
black bars, the tip white: the breaft and belly are 
of a whitifh yellow, adorned with tranfverfe waved 
bars; in fome of a deep brown color, in others 
orange: the cere, irides, and legs yellow. The co- 
lors of the female differ from thofe of the male: the 
head is of a deep brown; the back, and coverts 
of the wings, are dufky mixed with dove color; 
the coverts of the tail of ‘a brighter dove color ; 
the waved lines that crofs the breaft, are more 
numerous than thofe on that of the male; and the 
breaft itfelf of a purer white. 
This is the moft pernicious hawk we have; and 
makes great havoke among pigeons, as well as 
partridges. Jt builds in hollow trees, in old nefts 
of crows, large ruins, and high rocks: lays four 
white eges, encircled near the blunter end with red 
fpecks. Mr. Willughby places this among the 
fhort-winged hawks; or fuch whofe wings, when 
clofed, fall fhort of the end of the tail. 
L’Efmerillon. 
199 
MANNERS. 
