A MERICAN SPARROW- HA WK. 263 



that of the smaller species a brilliant orange ; the former has 

 the tail rounded at the end, the latter slightly forked. Such 

 essential differences never take place between two individuals 

 of the same species. It ought, however, to be remarked, that 

 in all the figures and descriptions I have hitherto met with 

 of the bird now before us, the iris is represented of a bright 

 golden colour ; but, in all the specimens I have shot, I uni- 

 formly found the eye very dark, almost black, resembling a 

 globe of black glass. No doubt the golden colour of the iris 

 would give the figure of the bird a more striking appearance ; 

 but, in works of natural history, to sacrifice truth to mere 

 picturesque effect is detestable, though, I fear, but too often 

 put in practice. 



The nest of this species is usually built in a hollow tree ; 

 generally pretty high up, where the top, or a large limb, has 

 been broken off. I have never seen its eggs ; but have been 

 told that the female generally lays four or five, which are of 

 a light brownish yellow colour, spotted with a darker tint ; the 

 young are fed on grasshoppers, mice, and small birds, the 

 usual food of the parents. 



The habits and manners of this bird are well known. It 

 flies rather irregularly, occasionally suspending itself in the 

 air, hovering over a particular spot for a minute or two, and 

 then shooting off in another direction. It perches on the top 

 of a dead tree or pole, in the middle of a field or meadow, 

 and, as it alights, shuts its long wings so suddenly, that they 

 seem instantly to disappear ; it sits here in an almost perpen- 

 dicular position, sometimes for an hour at a time, frequently 

 jerking its tail, and reconnoitring the ground below in every 

 direction for mice, lizards, &c. It approaches the farmhouse, 

 particularly in the morning, skulking about the barnyard for 

 mice or young chickens. It frequently plunges into a thicket 

 after small birds, as if by random ; but always with a parti- 

 cular, and generally a fatal, aim. One day I observed a bird 

 of this species perched on the highest top of a large poplar, 

 on the skirts of the wood, and was in the act of raising the 



