212 BIRDS L\ THEIR RELATIONS TO MAX. 



This species is, as Dr. Fisher remarks, " pre-eminently a 

 chicken-hawk. Its devastations in this direction are much 

 greater than lliose of all the other hawks and owls together, 

 with the possible exception of the sharp-shinned hawk, which 

 attacks much smaller chickens." This bird is also learning 

 to add the English sparrow to its bill of fare. 



The Goshawk is not a common species in the United States, 

 although in winter it is occasionally found. It is a northern 

 bird, occurring frequently in the British Provinces, where it 

 breeds. It feeds largely on good-sized birds, such as chickens, 

 ruffed grouse, cjuail, and mourning-doves, as well as on rab- 

 bits, squirrels, mice, and sometimes the larger insects. It can 

 scarcely be ranked as a beneficial bird in cultivated regions. 



It is fortunate that the Duck-Hawk is a rare species, because 

 it is a savage bird, extremely destructive to other birds of 

 many kinds. It is a powerful hawk, of good size, our form 

 being simply a geographical race of tlie famous peregrine 

 falcon of Europe. As its common name implies, it feeds 

 largely on water-fowl, and is seldom found far away from the 

 coast or the neighborhood of large bodies of water. When a 

 pair breed in tlie vicinity of a i)oultry yard, — a rare event, — 

 the chickens are liable to suffer severely. 



Among its other feathered victims one linds the meadow- 

 lark, robin, cat-bird, mourning-dove, gray-cheeked thrush, and 

 various warblers and sparrows. In Florida it feeds largely 

 upjn the coot, enormous numbers of which still inhabit the 

 inland lakes. At times it is very destructive to terns along 

 the Atlantic coast. 



The beautiful Osprey, or Fish-Hawk, is of chief interest on 

 account of its relations to the bald eagle, which so persistently 

 robs the osprey of its prey in nud-air. The fish-hawk is 

 chiefly a bird of the shore-line, Avliere it finds its food 

 abundant. 



The Marsh Hawk, sometimes also called the Marsh Har- 

 liiKii. inhabits almost the Nvliole of Xoi'lli Ainei-icji. bi'eediii'^ 



