OF NEW ENGLAND. 355 



latitudes as summer-residents. Tiiey seem to have a marked 

 fondness for home, and return to the same nesting-place, even 

 several years, it is said, in succession. Wilson mentions a 

 frequent circumstance in their life, which I haA^e never ob- 

 served, and sa3's : "The Blue Jays have a particular antipathy 

 to this bird, and frequently insult it b}- following and imitating 

 its notes so exactly as to deceive even those well acquainted 

 with both. In return for all this abuse the Hawk contents 

 himself with, now ^ind then, feasting on the plumpest of his 

 persecutors ; who are therefore in perpetual dread of him ; and 

 yet, thro some strange infatuation, or from fear that if they 

 lose sight of him he may attack them unawares, the Sparrow 

 Hawk no sooner appears tiian the alarm is given, and the 

 whole posse of Jays follow." 



(d). The notes of this species are loud and rather shrill, 

 but cannot be defined. It may be useful, however, for some 

 pei'son familiar with British birds, to know that they were 

 thought by Audubon to strongly resemble those of the Eu- 

 ropean Kestrel. 



III. ACCIPITER5 



(A) FDSCUs. Sharp-shinned Haiolc. '''• Pigeon Hawk" 



(A common summer-resident in many parts of New Eng- 

 land.) 



(o). About twelve inches long. Above, dark brown (be- 

 coming ashier with age), with a few white spots, chiefly on the 

 hind-head and wings. Tail, lighter, with a few dark bands 

 (which are more distinct than those of the wings), and tipped 

 with pale brown or whitish. Beneath, white ; breast, closely 

 barred with light rufous-brown, and throat pencilled, but under 

 tail-coverts often unmarked. The shafts of the wing and tail 

 have a faint reddish gloss, as have also the basal portion of 

 the webs. 



(6). The nest is usually built in a pine, from twenty to forty 

 feet above the ground. It is composed chiefl}' of sticks and 



* Nhus has been lately cstablisbed in place of Accipiter, 



