THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



309 



BRITISH BIRDS. THEIR 

 NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 

 Genus VIII., Accipiter. 



Accipiter (L), from Accipio, to take. 



This genus, of which we have only one 

 species, is characterized by the shortness of 

 the bill, the short rounded wings, long tail, 

 and long slender legs and claws. 



12. SPARROWHAWK. 

 Accipiter nisus (Linn.) 

 Sparl hok (Sweden.) 

 L'epervier (France.) 

 Falco palumbino (Italy.) 

 Die Sparber (Germany.) 

 Pilan, Gwepia (Anct. Brit.) 

 Nisus (L ) flight. Applied to the Sparrow- 

 hawk, perhaps, because of its rapid flight. 



Size. — Male, length about i ft. . expanse 

 ift. ioin. Female, length ift. 2in. to ift. 

 4in., expanse 2ft. 4m. 



Plumage. — The adult male has the 

 bill dark horn-colour, cere and legs yellow, 

 the whole of the upper parts slaty-blue ; 

 under parts yellowish-white, shaded and 

 barred with sienna red. Eyes yellow. 



The Female, which is much larger than 

 the male, has the upper parts dark ashy- 

 brown, the tail with four darker bars ; 

 under parts white, the throat streaked and 

 the belly barred with ashy-brown. 



Immature males resemble the female in 

 colour. 



The Young are at first covered with 

 white down. 



Varieties of this species occur, perhaps 

 more frequently, than of any other bird of 

 prey. A case in the Leeds Philosophical 

 Museum contains thirty-three varieties. I 

 have seen specimens entirely drab, and Mr. 

 Bond tells me of one in London pure white, 

 with the margins of the larger scapular 

 feathers and the flanks, tinged with light 

 clear rusty-red Morris records one, a male, 



"the whole plumage being as white as 

 snow." Mr. Hancock figures a male in his 

 "Birds of Northumberland and Durham," 

 being destitute of the red bands on the 

 breast and belly, the whole under parts 

 being white, tinged with rufous. 



Note. — During the breeding season, the 

 old birds are said to make a noise exactly 

 like a young cat. 



Flight,— The flight of the Sparrow- 

 hawk is quick and steady ; gliding along 

 steadily, but rapidly, along the side of some 

 fence, then suddenly darting over and seiz- 

 ing some unwary yellow-hammer, or other 

 small bird which the hawk had " spotted 

 out " as its victim. When flying in the open 

 air its movements and general appearance 

 is much like that of the cuckoo. 



Migration. — I am not aware that the 

 Sparrowhawk is migratory in this country. 



Food. — In this species there are some 

 grounds for the game-keeper's persecution, 

 but " Honi soit quoi mal y pcnse," and do not 

 slaughter all hawks because the voracious 

 Sparrowhawk happens to be one of that 

 tribe. It preys upon all kinds of small 

 birds, and will doubtless also take the 

 young of the larger game. It is very bold, 

 indeed we might almost say reckless, in pur- 

 suit of its prey. Not unfrequently has it 

 been known to chase small birds through 

 open windows It has sometimes dashed 

 through a window at a cage-bird that has 

 been hung before it. When a luckless bird 

 finds itself pursued by a Sparrowhawk, it is 

 generally so terrified that it will seek refuge 

 in all kinds of places ; it is recorded of a 

 swallow on such an occasion, having flown 

 into the breast of a lady. 



In Confinement, although naturally a 

 fierce and voracious bird, the Sparrowhawk 

 is capable of being tamed, and even trained 

 to fly at small birds. One is recorded as 

 having been known to live in a dovecote, on 



