352 THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 



language could describe. In pursuit of its prey, which may 

 consist of small quadrupeds, the smaller ducks and waders, 

 grouse, and the larger kinds of the common land-birds, it 

 moves with great spirit and adroitness, and seldom misses 

 its quarry. So well known is it in the poultry yard that it 

 is called the "Chicken Hawk." When reared from the nest 

 it becomes so thoroughly domesticated as to need no con- 

 finement. 



THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 



The Sharp-shinned Hawk {Accipiter fiiscus), in every way 

 so similar to Cooper's Hawk, is some 12 inches long; brown 

 or slate-colored above, with a few white spots on the back 

 of the head and on the scapulars; tail also brown or 

 ashy, but considerably lighter, with fine dark bands across 

 it, sometimes tipped with whitish; the white under parts 

 closely and narrowly barred with reddish; throat, narrowly 

 streaked lengthwise with brown. Its nest is similarly placed 

 to that of the former species, only not so high up in the 

 tree, but is occasionally placed on a rock. The eggs, some 

 4, are about 1.40 x 1.20, roundish, clear white, or perhaps 

 slightly tinged with blue or green, heavily and distinctly 

 marked — patched — with brown. 



This Hawk reaches Western New York the latter part of 

 April, and its eggs are laid early in May. It is readily dis- 

 tinguished by its short, broad wings, and rather nervous 

 and irregular flight; but it moves rapidly, and sometimes 

 with great impetuosity, so that it has been known to pass 

 through several glass partitions of a green-house. Seizing 

 its prey on the wing, in the manner of a true Hawk, it dashes 

 after it with the utmost directness, moving high or low, to 

 the right or left, as if by some continuous attraction. With 

 an unerring stroke, it wounds fatally in the very act of 

 capture, and then bears its prey to a tree, to be devoured at 



