Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/286

250 to catch it before it fell to the ground. The little fellow attracted the notice of his brothers, brought up hard by, who, accompanied by their parents, at first gave it chase, and forced it to take refuge behind one of the window-shutters, where it usually passed the night, but soon became gentler towards it, as if forgiving its desertion. My bird was fastidious in the choice of food, would not touch a Woodpecker, however fresh, and as he grew older, refused to eat birds that were in the least tainted. To the last he continued kind to me, and never failed to return at night to his favourite roost behind the window-shutter. His courage- ous disposition often amused the family, as he would sail off from his stand, and fall on the back of a tame duck, which, setting up a loud quack, would waddle off in great alarm with the Hawk sticking to her. But, as has often happened to adventurers of similar spirit, his audacity cost him his life. A hen and her brood chanced to attract his notice, and he flew to secure one of the chickens, but met one whose parental affec- tion inspired her with a courage greater than his own. The conflict, which was severe, ended the adventures of poor Nero.

I have often observed birds of this species in the Southern States, and more especially in the Floridas, which were so much smaller than those met with in the Middle and Northern Districts, that I felt almost in- clined to consider them different ; but after studying their habits and voice, I became assured that they were the same. Another species allied to the present, and alluded to by Wilson, has never made its appearance in our Southern States.

Falco sparverius, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. L p. 128. Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 42. Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 2?.

American Sparrow-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 117. pi, 16. fig. 1, Female; and voL iv. p. 5?. pi. 32. fig. 2, Male. JVuttall, Manual, part i. p. 58.

Falco sparverius, Little Rusty-crowned Falcon, Swains, and Richards. Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 31.

Adult Male. Plate CXLII. Fig. 1, 2.

Bill short, cerate at the base, the dorsal line curved in its whole length ; upper mandible with the edges slightly inflected, and forming a small projecting process, the tip trigonal, acute, descending ; lower mandible inflected at the edges, with a notch near the end, which is abrupt.