AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK. 
59 
are still found, in all of which countries they probably 
breed. 
According to the habits of this tribe of rapacious birds, 
it appears that the nest is built in a hollow, shattered, or 
decayed tree at a considerable elevation ; the eggs are 
said to be 4 or 5, of a light brownish yellow and spotted 
with brown. 
Its motions appear somewhat capricious, it occasion- 
ally hovers with beating wings, reconnoitring for prey, 
and soon impatiently darts off to a distance to renew the 
same manoeuvre. In the winter, however, it is most 
commonly seen perched on some dead branch, or 
on a pole or stalk in the fields, often at a little dis- 
tance from the ground, keeping up a frequent jerking of 
the tail, and attentively watching for some such humble 
game as mice, grasshoppers, or lizards. At this time it 
is likewise so familiar as to enter the garden, orchard, or 
premises near to the house, and shows but little alarm 
on being approached. It is however by no means defi- 
cient in courage, and like the larger true Falcons, often 
makes a fatal and rapid sweep upon sparrows, or those 
small birds which are its accustomed prey. 
The female is 11 inches long, the stretch of the wings 23 inches. 
The male about 9J or 10 inches. The cere and legs are yellow. 
The bill bluish-grey. Space round the eye greenish-blue. Iris, dark 
hazel. The head bluish-ash ; crown, rufous ; 7 large black spots, 
6 of them curving, surround the head on a white ground. The whole 
upper parts are of a reddish bay, striped transversely with dusky 
brown ; the primary and secondary quills black, spotted on their inner 
vanes with brownish- white. Lower parts pale yellowish white, mark- 
ed with longitudinal spots of brown, except the chin, vent, and 
thighs, which are white; the claws, black. — Note. The St. Do- 
mingo bird appears to be a distinct species ; in it the spots on the 
neck are round, and are wanting altogether at some periods of its 
existence. 
