( J )
The Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter Fringillarius;
Numb. V.
IT S Length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail is i j
Inches, its Breadth when the Wings are extended, i Feet, Weight j
Ounces; its Beak is ihort, hooked, bluiih, and black towards the Point;
the Bafis of the upper Chap is covered with a yellowiih green Skin, having
an angular Appendix or Tooth on each fide the Noftril. The
Noftrils are oblong, the Palate blue, the Tongue thick, black and a little
cleft; the Eyes of a mean Size, Iridis yellow, the Brows prominent; the
Crown of the Head, upper fide of the Neck, Back, Shoulders and Wings,
are of a dark brown, fpotted with darker Spots of the fame Colour; the
under fide, viz. the Neck, Breaft, Belly and Sides are of a yellow Colour,
with indented Marks of brown croiling the whole Breaft and Belly of the
Bird; the Feathers under the Chin are of a pale Ruflet, inclining to white,
fpotted on their middle Parts towards the Tip with brown.
The Wings, when clofed, icarce reach to the middle of the Train; the
quill Feathers are in Number 18,. the interior Vanes light red, with five
fcallop Bars of black; the out Vanes are of a dark brown or hair Colour;
the under fide of the Wings, with the Coverts, all light red, with black
indented Bars a-crofs each Feather.
The Tail is made of i z Feathers, 6 Inches and a half long, of a dark
brown Colour, with tranfverfe Bars of black; the Thighs are ftrong and
fleihy, as in all Birds of Prey; the Legs long, flender and yellowiih, reaching
to the end of the Train; the Toes long, Claws crooked and black :
The Food of this Hawk is only Birds, he never touching Beetles or other
Infeft; it is a bold courageous Bird, and frequently train’d up and made
for Hawking : They are often taken in the Nets by the Bird-catchers^ when
they come down to ftrike at their Brace-birds.
They lay five white Eggs, fpotted near the blunt end with a Circle, as
it were a Coronet, of blood-red Specks.