THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 187 



Louisiana, ha\nng' shot it tliere in July. In the Middle and Noi'thern States it 

 is fairly common in suitable localities, and the same holds g-ood in tlie Rocky 

 Mountain region and the mountains of the Pacific coast, where it is known to 

 breed from California to Alaska. It is not uncommon in the higher mountain 

 regions of Arizona, and has been met with in similar localities in Lower Cali- 

 fornia. 



It seems to be a regular summer visitor throughout the southern portions 

 of the Dominion of Canada, while in the interior of British Nortli America it 

 breeds at least as far north as latitude 62°; Mr. R. Kennicott taking its nest 

 and eggs near Foi't Resolution, on the shores of the Great Slave Lake, on June 

 16, 1860, and Mr. J. Lockhart, of the Hudson Bay Company, found it breed- 

 ing in the same locality in June, 1863. The eggs taken by these gentlemen 

 are in the U. S. National Museum collection. Mr. B. R. Ross noticed it also at 

 Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River, in about latitude 63°. 



In the northern portions of their range they are only summer residents, a 

 few wintering- as for north as latitude 40°, the majority passing farther south. 

 The southward migration takes place in the latter part of September and the 

 beginning of October. Dr. A. K. Fisher tells me of having seen several hun- 

 dred of these birds at this time in one day's tramp, the majority of them flying 

 high. They return to their summer homes about the latter part of ^larcli or 

 the first days in April. 



The Sharp-shinned Hawk, though small in size, is full of dash and 

 courage, frequently attacking birds as large as itself and killing them witli 

 ease. Like its larger relatives, the vicious Cooper's Hawk and Goshawk, it 

 has very destructive instincts. It lives mostly on small birds, but occasionally 

 on some fully as large as itself — among these. Pigeons, Bob Whites, Mourn- 

 ing Doves, Purple Grackles, and Robins may be mentioned. Small rodents 

 appear to furnish but a very limited portion of its food, and insects are like- 

 wise rarely eaten. 



Although the wings of the Sharp-shinned Hawk are rather short, its 

 flight when in pursuit of its prey is unerring and exceedingly swift. No 

 matter wliicli way the selected victim may tixru and doiible, his untiring 

 pursuer is equally prompt, and only rarely will it miss capturing its qiiarry. 

 Once struck, death fortunately follows quickly, as it fairly transfixes its 

 victim's ^'itals with its long and sliarp talons. 



It is said to be ratlier fond of young pullets, and does not hesitate to 

 help itself to these as long as one is left. It is one of the few species 

 that must be considered as more harmful than beneficial, looked at from 

 an economic point of view. 



Mr. William L. Rali)h writes me that " Sharp-sliinned Hawks are quite 

 common in the northern part of Oneida County, New York, and do not seem 

 to decrease in numbers so fast as other Hawks; w^hich is partly due to their 

 retiring habits, and again to their quick movements, which make it difficult 

 to shoot them. Tliev do not, like most other Hawks, circle througli the air 



