138 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



Suiiuiiary of t lie Contents of 12^ Stomachs of the Marsli Hawk. {Front Fisher.) 



7 stomachs contained poultry or game birds. 



34 stomachs contained other birds. 



57 stomachs contained mice. 



22 stomachs contained other mammals. 



7 stomachs contained reptiles. 

 14 stomachs contained insects. 



I stomach contained indeterminate matter. 



8 stomachs were empty. 



Cooper's Hawk {Aecipiter cooperi). — This and the following species are the real 

 culprits among the Hawks; for their sins all the members of the family have been 

 made to suffer. Compared with the mouse-eating species of the genus Buteo 

 they are long, slim birds (see plate), which, as a rule, never scream nor soar, but 

 lurk quietly in ambush as becomes true hunters. Comparison of the appended 

 tables with those giving the food of the so-called Chicken Hawks will readily show 

 how this name has in truth been misapplied. 



The question is, how are we to distinguish these bird-killing Hawks from those 

 which should be preserved. It is a difficult matter. Probably the only safe way to 

 give justice to whom justice is due is to kill only the Hawks we actually see taking 

 our chickens, and not murder indiscriminately every member of the Hawk family. 



Smnuiary of the Contents of ijj Stomachs of Cooper's Hawk. {From Fisher.) 



34 stomachs contained poultry or game birds. 

 52 stomachs contained other birds. 

 II stomachs contained mammals. 



1 stomach contained a frog. 



3 stomachs contained lizards. 



2 stomachs contained insects. 

 39 stomachs were empty. 



Sharp-Shinned Hawk {Aecipiter velox). — This species closely resembles Cooper's 

 Hawk in color and in habits. It is, however, so much smaller that it cannot prey 

 to much extent on poultry but lives chiefly on small birds. 



