COMPARATIVE PHRENOLOGY. 
77 
determined, that its victim shall not escape, these very motions being still 
marked with something of dogged firmness of purpose. And when its prey is 
considered sure, how T unerring and deadly is its aim, and how savagely does it 
pounce and seize the trembling, panting, unfortunate Sparrow, and then instanta¬ 
neously gratify its sanguinary propensity ! The Sparrow Hawk reminds one of a 
secret assassin, turning and winding with a breathless purpose, and although 
determined to sacrifice the victim of his hatred, or of his ire, he in either 
instance waits an opportune moment, and strikes the unconscious individual ; 
nay often repeating the stab in order to gratify a malignant and savage dis¬ 
position: 
Comparing the skull of the Sparrow Hawk with tfrat of the Barn Owl, w r e 
perceive that the latter does not present a fullness from the base (laterally) to 
the vertex, but on the contrary is broader atthe base, on comparison of the sizes 
of the skulls, and goes off gradually decreasing upwards, like a pyramid flattened 
on both its sides, and also on the surface; and of all the Owls this one is the most 
courageous (Destructiveness and Combativeness being large); it dispatches its 
victims with great celerity, its feeding-hours being at twilight, morning, and 
evening. The upper portion of the parietal bones being narrow across, indicates 
a comparative deficiency of Cautiousness, which is also well in harmony with its 
known habits, it being less timid than other species of Owl, building in the flues 
of gentlemen’s houses. It should manifest great attachment, if we may judge 
from the breadth of the back of the head. 
I would also now call attention to three birds of very different mental mani¬ 
festations, although nearly related as far as regards family connection,—the 
Magpie, the Crow, and the Rook. The head of the Magpie indicates a remark¬ 
able difference of form from either of the others, the middle portion of the lateral 
region of the brain, corresponding in relative position in the human cranium to 
Secretiveness (being between Destructiveness and Cautiousness), is largely deve¬ 
loped in this bird. This part of the skull actually projects, so as to exhibit a 
“ bump ” ! The habits of the Magpie are well accounted for, and explained by, 
its cerebral organization. It overcomes its victims or its enemies by its superior 
cunning, more than from any great endowment of courage. The Magpie is pro¬ 
verbial for its sly and thievish propensities. Even when in captivity, it has been 
known to conceal its food in its cage, and pry about as if to watch the oppor¬ 
tunity of gratifying its hunger and Secretiveness at the same time. Thus it may 
be seen taking, in a deceitful, cheating kind of way, portions of its meal, parti¬ 
cularly watching in the most sly manner that it is not observed. We often 
meet with Magpie-men, who never do any thing in a straight-forward manner; 
they are always suspicious of the motives of others, and continually trying to 
