242 XORTH AMERICAN CIRD3. 



locality iu "Weston, until the Litter i)art of I\Iay. It ^vas found hvccdinj:; in 

 Iowa by Mr. S. X. ^lar.-ton, Mr. Victor Brooke record.-; in tlio Ibi.s, 1S70, 

 p. 538, the occnrrence, in Ireland, of an example of this sjiccies. It was .sliut 

 iu the Galtee Mountains, in Ft-hruary, 1870. The bird was a mature fi'nude, 

 \vith tlie ovary somewliat enlarged. The stomach contained the remains of 

 a rabbit. 



On the Pacific coast it is comparatively rare in California, tlmu'^h mncli 

 more abundant fartiier north, in Oregon and iu Wasiiingtou Territory. I)r. 

 Cooper noticed several in the dense si)ruce forest.s of "Washington Territory, 

 and regarded it as a special frequenter of dark woods, where other Hawks 

 are rarely seen. iJr. Suckley also obtained several sjicciracns of this lard 

 botli at Fort Dalles and at Fort Steilacoom. 



Sir John Eicliardson met with this Hawk and procured several specimens 

 in tlie Arctic regions, and Cajitain lllakiston also met with it in the valley 

 of the Saskatchewan. He states that it ranges throagiiout tiie interior from 

 Hudson's Bay to the PLucky ilountains and ^Mackenzie Piver. He found it 

 breeding on the Saskatchewan, and one of his specimens was shot on its 

 nest. The Goshawk was olitained at Sitka by Bischoff ; and a pair was taken 

 by Mr. Dall, April 24, 18G7, witliin a few miles of Xulato Fort, on the 

 Yukon Piver. Tlie nest was on a large poplar, tliirty feet above tlie LTound, 

 and made of small sticks. Xo eggs had been laid, but several nearly mature 

 were found in the ovary of the female. The nest was on a small island in a 

 thick grove of poplars, a situation which this species seemed to jircfer. .Mr. 

 Dall adds that this was tlie most common Hawk in the valley of the Yukon, 

 where it feeds largely on the White I'tarmigan Luiiopii^ nibiis), tearing off 

 the skin and feathers, and eating only the ilesli. Mr. Dall received skins 

 from the Kuskoquim Piver, where it was said to lie a resident species. 



Dr. Suckley speaks of this Hawk as bold, swift, and strong, never hesi- 

 tating to sweep into a poultry-yard, catch up a chicken, and make off with 

 it almost iu a breath. Its manner of seizing its ])rey was by a horizon- 

 tal approach for a short distance, elevated but a few feet from the ground, 

 a sudilen downward sweep, and then, without stopping its flight, making its 

 way to a neighboring tree with the struggling victim securely fastened in 

 its talons. For strength, intrepidity, and fury, Dr. Suckley adds, it cannot 

 be surjiassed. It seems to display great cunning, seizing very opportune 

 moments for its attacks. In one instance it was several days betbre he was 

 able to have one of these birds killed, although men were constantly on 

 the watch for it. So adroit was it in seizing opportunities to make its at- 

 tacks, that it regularly visited the poultry -yard three times a d;iy, and yet 

 always contrived to escape unmolested. He found these birds much mme 

 plentiful during some months than at other times, and attributed it to their 

 breeding in the retired recesses of the mountains, remaining there until 

 their young were well able to tiy, and then all descending to the oiien plains, 

 where they obtain a more abundant supply of food. 



