AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
51 
AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK FALCO SPARVERIUS. 
Plate XXXII. Fig. 2. Male. 
Little Hawk, Arct. Zool. 211, No. 110 — Emerillon de Cayenne, Buff. i. 291. 
PI. enl. No. 444 Lath. i. 110 Peak's Museum, No. 340. 
FAL CO SPAR VERIUS. — Linsueus. 
Falco sparverius, Bonap. Synop. p. 27 Falco sparverius, Little Rusty-crowned 
Falcon, North. Zool. ii. p. 31. 
The female of this species has been already figured and 
described in Vol. I. of this work. As they differ considerably 
in the markings of their plumage, the male is introduced here, 
Cuvier, and are closely allied to the Surnia of Dumeril. In fact, the characters 
of the latter appear to me to agree better than those of Noctua ; and Lesson 
says, “ Les cheveches ne se font pas reconnaitre tres nettement des chouettes.” 
The Snowy Owl feeds by day as well as by night, and is much more active 
than the night feeding birds ; it approaches nearer to the Hawk Owls. The 
head is less ; the tail and wings, elongated, and the plumage is more compact 
and rigid. It appears to extend as far north in America as any inhabited 
country, and is found in the coldest districts of Europe. It is also mentioned 
by Pennant to reach beyond the Asiatic frontier to the hot latitude of Astracan, 
( a contrast , if it should turn out the same species ,) and was discovered to breed 
in Orkney and Shetland by Mr Bullock, who procured several specimens. 
Its visits to the mainland of Britain are, again, more rare ; indeed, I believe 
one of the only instances on record is that of a male and female killed near 
Rothbury in Northumberland, in January 1823, — a winter remarkable for a 
severe snow storm. They were killed on an open moor, in a wild and rocky 
part of the country, and were generally seen perched upon the snow, or upon 
some large stone projecting from it. Both now form beautiful specimens in 
the collection of Mr Selby. 
They become very familiar in winter, approaching close to the dwellings of 
the Indians. In Lapland they are shot with ball when hunting after moles 
and lemmings, and in that country, like many other Owls, they are looked upon 
with superstition. They utter a sound at night when perched, like the grunting 
of pigs, which, by the common and uninformed people, is thought to be some 
apparition or spectre. By Hearne the Snow Owl is said to be known to watch 
the grouse shooters a whole day, for the purpose of sharing in the spoil. On 
such occasions, it perches on a high tree, and when a bird is shot, skims down 
and carries it off before the sportsman can get near it. We have the following 
