Species II. FALCO SPAEVEEIVS. 
AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
[Plate XVI.— Fig. 1.— Female.] 
Emcrillon de St. Domhiguc, Buff. i. 291. Pl.enl. iGo.—Arct. Zool. 1\2.~LUtle 
Falcon, L.\Tn. Si/n. v. i., p. 110, No. 94. Ih. 95. 
In no department of ornithology has there been greater confusion, 
or more mistakes made, then among this class of birds of prey. The 
great difference of size between the male and female, the progressive 
variation of plumage to which, for several years, they are subject, and 
the difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of specimens for examina- 
tion ; all these causes conspire to lead the naturalist into almost 
unavoidable mistakes. For these reasons, and in order, if possible, to 
ascertain each species of this genus distinctly, I have determined, where 
any doubt or ambiguity prevails, to represent both male and female, as 
fair and perfect specimens of each may come into my possession. 
According to fashionable etiquette the honor of precedence, in the 
present instance, is given to the female of this species ; both because she 
is the most courageous, the largest and ho.ndsomest of the two, best 
ascertained, and less subject to change of color than the male, who will 
require some further examination and more observation, before we can 
venture to introduce him. 
This bird is a constant resident in almost every part of the United 
States, particularly in the states north of Mai'yland. In the southern 
states there is a small species found, which is destitute of the black 
spots on the head ; the legs are long and very slender, and the wings 
light blue. This has been supposed, by some, to be the male of the 
present species ; but this is an error. The eye of the present species 
is dusky ; 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 figures and descriptions I 
have hitherto met Avith of the bird now before us, the iris is represented 
of a bright golden color ; but in all the specimens I have sliot I uni- 
formly found the eye very dark, almost black, resembling a globe of 
black glass. No doubt the golden color of the iris would give the figure 
of the l)ird 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 
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