FALCONID.E — A CCIPITRIN/E: HA WKS. 



669 



state is oftener seen than the perfected plumage ; every intermediate stage is seen ; but there 

 can be no misunderstanding the species, as our only other Hawks {Falco columburius and F. 

 sparverius) of similar sliglit dimensions belong to a different geuus aud subfamily. N. Am. 

 at large, one of our most abundant Hawks, aud one which, notwithstanding its smalluess, sus- 

 tains the reputation of Accipitrince for nerve and prowess. It preys almost entirely upon birds, 

 up to the size of a Robin, even of a Pigeon ur pullet. The nest is built at a fair height in a 

 tree, preferably a conifer, sometimes in a hollow or on a ledge of rocks, being a shallow plat- 

 form of small sticks with or without a lining of leaves or bark ; of remarkably large dimensions 

 for the size of the bird ; the eggs are generally laid in May, sometimes not till June, to the 

 number of 4 or 5, rarely more. The white ground-color has often a livid bluish or greenish 



Fio. 450. — Accipiier nisus of Europe, adult (f, J nat. size; not distinguishable in a cut from our Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk ; taken as of j nat. size it would represent Cooper's Hawk just as well ; at | it would do duty for a Goshawk. 

 (From Brelim.) 



tint, and is marked, often so thickly as to be obscured, with large, irregular splashes of various 

 shades of brown, intermiuably changeable in number, size, and pattern, sometimes inclining 

 ti> form masses or a wreath, sometimes more evenly distributed, sometimes reduced to spots, 

 in rare cases to a few mere specks sparsely scattered over the whole surface. The egg is of 

 nearly equal size at both ends, and measures about 1.45 X 1.15, ranging in length from 1.40 

 to 1.54. It is not always distinguishable with certainty from that of Fako cnlumbnrius. The 

 eggs of this species are usually beautiful objects. (A.fuscus of ]>revious eds. of the Key, a 

 name preoccupied ; velox Wilson is next in order of date, and now usccl by the A. 0. U.) 

 A. coo'pcri. (To Wm. Cooper. Figs. 452, 45.*}.) Cooper's Hawk. Chickkn Hawk (a 

 name shaiid l)y species of 7?»/eo.) liio BurE Dautkk. Tlie colors and changes of j»lumage 

 of this species being practically tlie same as those of trior, need not be repeated. The chief 

 diffeicnces are : crown of adult usually ajipreciably darker slate than back ; wliite scapular spots 

 sm.iller, fewer, or w.nitini,' ; in high plumage the upper parts clearer bluish, while the breast 

 lias a tine glaucous bloom overlying the rufous and white ground-color; tail more decidedly 



