LAND BIRDS. 263 



7 contained poultry or game birds; 34, other birds; 57, mice; 22, other 

 mammals; 7, reptiles; 2, frogs; and 14, insects. 



This hawk is peculiar in nesting always on the ground, where it builds 

 a somewhat bulky nest, mainly of weed-stalks and grass, and lays from 

 four to eight bluish- wdiite, unspotted eggs, the usual number being five or 

 six. Occasionalhv the ground color is pure white and not infrequently 

 there are a few pale brown spots. The eggs average 1.80 by 1.41 inches. 

 The period of incubation is about four weeks. 



In spring these hawks are seen always in pairs, but after the young are 

 able to fly they often hunt in fnmily parties, and later in the season gather 

 into loose flocks of twenty to fifty individuals. Their call note is said to 

 be "a peevish scream, not unlike that of the Red-tailed Hawk, though not 

 so strong" (Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds, I, 185). 



This is one of the birds most often killed ])y sportsmen, few of whom can 

 resist the temptation of so fair a mark. This is much to be regretted, since 

 the bird does almost no harm and renders incalculable service by the de- 

 struction of mice and insects. In Nebraska Professor Aughey found it 

 feeding freely on the Rocky Mountain locust during locust years, and the 

 five stomachs which he examined showed an average of fifty locusts (1st 

 Rep. U. 8. Entom. Com., App. 2, p. 43). 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Face with an imperfect ruff, somewhat as in owls. Adult male: Mostly light bluish 

 gray above, more or less streaked with white, the upper tail-coverts pure white; under 

 parts nearly white, usually with a bluish tinge, and rather faintly streaked with grayish 

 or buffy; wings tipped with blackish, forming an excellent field mark; tail bluish gray 

 with six or more narrow dark bars, the sub-terminal bar being broad and very dark. Adult 

 female: General color deep brown above, streaked with rusty; under parts buffy or 

 whitish, streaked with brown; upper tail-coverts white as in male; tail brown with six 

 or seven distinct blackish bars. Young: Similar to adult female but darker everywhere, 

 and tail with only four dark bands. 



Length 19.50 to 24 inches; wing 12.90 to 16; tail S.SO to 10.50. 



135. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox (TrZ/s.). (332) 



Synonyms: Pigeon Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Birtl Hawk, Chicken Hawk, Bullet Hawk. 

 — Falco velox, Wils., 1812. — Falco fuscus, Gmel., 1789. — Accipiter fuscus, Bonap., 1838, 

 and authors generally. — Nisus fuscus, B. B. & R., 1875. 



Plate XVIII. 



Known by the small size, comparatively short wings and long tail, and 

 especially l)y the slender legs and feet and the remarkably long toes. As 

 with many hawks, adult plumage is not acquired for several years and the 

 fully mature birds are entirely different in color and markings from younger 

 ones. This species is not likely to be confounded with any other save the 

 Cooper's Hawk, but the latter is commonly much lai'gor and the end of tail 

 rounded instead of square. 



Distribution. — North America in genei'al; south to Panama. Breetls 

 throughout its North American range. 



This little hawk is known in different })arts of the state by different 

 names, as indicated above, l)ut it is most often called "S]ian-ow Hawk," 

 a mime to which it has every natural right, since it feeds largely upon 

 small birds; but unfoit unatcly the name "Sparrow Hawk" is the one given 



