FOREST BIRDS 139 



is most destructive to game birds, particularly Ruffed 

 Grouse. Fortunately this bird is not common, and 

 as we are here concerned only with those species 

 which we may expect to see any winter's day, let us 

 see how we may distinguish the innocent ones from 

 those that are guilty. 



We must not be misled by appearances. The 

 large size, habit of perching in conspicuous places, 

 and of soaring In wide circles while calling loudly, 

 has made the Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks 

 familiar figures to the farmer. But the Cooper's 

 and Sharp-shinned Hawks are less frequently seen. 

 They avoid exposed places, slip quickly through the 

 woods, and, as a rule, are quiet. They are smaller, 

 lighter birds than the Red-shoulder and Red-tail, 

 and few people seeing all four together would select 

 them as the criminals. 



It is, however, far easier to drop on some unsus- 

 pecting mouse than to capture a bird. Watch the 

 Sharp-shin In pursuit of a Robin. With what speed 

 it follows its victim, dashing through the trees, mak- 

 ing every twist and turn of the poor bird that is 

 flying for its life, until its keen talons are plunged 

 into its prey. 



The heavy-bodied Red-shoulder or Red-tail could 

 not perform this feat. They are built for hunting 

 in the open and, while they may sometimes take a 



