The Sharp-Shinned Hawk 95 



seen high in air, migrating southward in a leisurely manner, and so they follow 



the southern flight of the smaller birds on which they prey. 



From April until early June, according to the latitude, the 



Nest. Eggs \vooing of the Hawks begins. Perched in an exposed posidon, 

 and Young ^ , . , .^, „ • , r 



the male issues his shrillest call notes, moving about Irom 



place to place until a female responds. The ardent courtship is soon over 



and then the happy pair fly away in company to select a suitable nesting-site. 



Nest-building occupies about one week. The nest is usually placed rather high 



in an evergreen tree, in some sequestered locality. More rarel}-, it is located 



in a deciduous tree, in a hollow tree, or on some lofty ledge or cliif. Sometimes 



an old Crow's nest or a squirrel's nest is utilized as a basis upon which to construct 



the home. In this case the nest is a large, conspicuous structure; but, ordinarily, 



it is not very noticeable, and, in some cases, it is well concealed by the foliage. 



It usually consists of a platform of sticks, resting on a whorl of branches and 



fixed against the trunk of the tree. Dr\' grasses and strips of bark are usually 



placed upon this foundation and interwoven to form the nest lining. Some nests 



are less skilfully formed and are unlined. 



The eggs vary in number from three to five, and are pale white, greenish or 

 bluish white, very heavily blotched, spotted and marked with light brown, dark 

 brow^n, drab, fawn and lavender. These markings often form a ring about some 

 part of the egg. Both sexes join in incubation, and in the care of the young, which, 

 when first hatched, are covered with soft white down. 



The young are confined to the nest for about four weeks. Then they begin to 



climb and flutter about among the branches; but, if undisturbed, they remain 



in the vicinity of the nest for several weeks longer, where they are still fed by the 



parents. The woods now resound with their shrill, squealing cries. Having finally 



strengthened their wings by exercise among the tree-tops, they attempt longer 



flights, and soon leave their home forever. 



This bird is a model of activitv and courage. Probably none 

 Habits and . , .,,.,. . " , ., 



of the raptorial birds is proportionately its supenor in prowess. 



Its every movement is marked by nervous haste. It is fierce, 



swift, impetuous — the embodiment of ferocity and rapacity. It does not hesitate 



to attack birds much larger than itself. Mr. C. J. Maynard tells of one that struck 



a Night Heron in mid-air, dashing it to the ground. Not seldom it strikes and 



kills other birds or mammals so large that it cannot carry them aw-ay. It has been 



known to kill and carry ofif a young pullet so hea\y that its toes dragged on the 



ground. I saw a clamorous Crow follow one of these Hawks and attack it, but 



the Uttle bird turned on the sable tormentor and drove it ignominously from 



the field. Indeed, the Crow was fortunate to escape with its hfe, so fast and 



fvirious w-as the onslaught of its small, but spirited antagonist. Occasionally a 



mob of Bluejays will follow^ and malign one of these Hawks until it becomes 



enraged and dashes to earth one of the screaming crew, all of whom hasten to 



escape, leaving their comrade to its fate. 



