AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
57 
both male and female, as fair and perfect specimens of 
each may come into my possession. According' to 
fashionable etiquette, the honour of precedence, in the 
present instance, is given to the female of this species; 
both because she is the most courageous, the largest 
and handsomest of the two, best ascertained, and less 
subject to change of colour than the male, who will 
require some farther 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 
Maryland. In the southern states there is a smaller 
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 the figures and descriptions I 
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 ; generally 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 grass- 
hoppers, mice, and small birds, the usual food of the 
parents. 
The habits and manners of this bird are well known. 
