AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
39 
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 1 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 uniformly 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; ge- 
nerally 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, ho- 
vering over a particular spot for a minute or two, and then 
shooting oflT 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 instant- 
ly to disappear; it sits here in an almost perpendicular position, 
sometimes for an hour at a time, frequently jerking its tail, and 
reconnoitering the ground below, in every direction, for mice, 
lizards, &c. It approaches the farm-house, particularly in the 
morning, skulking about the barn-yard for mice or young 
chickens. It frequently plunges into a thicket after small birds, 
as if by random; but always with a particular, and generally a fa- 
tal, 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 gun to my eye when he swept 
down with the rapidity of an arrow into a thicket of briars 
about thirty yards off; where I shot him dead; and on coming 
