20 NORTH AMERICAN OOLOGY. PART I. 



The eggs represented on Plate III, figs. 23 and 24, are the move common varieties. 

 Figs. 23 and 54 (Plate V) were from the same nest, and obtained by Dr. H. E.. 

 Storer in Concord, Mass. The egg copied in fig. 24 was obtamed in New Jersey by 

 Mr. John Krider, of PhiladeliDhia. 



ACCIPITER COOPEEIl. 



Falco cooperii, Bonap. Syn. 1828, App. p. 433. 



" " " Am. Orn. II, 1828, p. 1. 



Astur cooperii, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 5. 



" " AuD. Syn. 1839, p. 18. 



« " " Birds of Am. I, 1840, 98, pi. xxiv. 



« " Lembeye, Av. de la Isla de Cuba, 1850, p. 17. 



Falco stanleyii, Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1834, 186, pi. xx.wi. 



" " " " " II, 1835, 245, pi. cxli. 



Accipiter cooperii, Cassin, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 96. 



VuLG. — Cooper''s Hawk. Stanley Haivk. Hen-Hawk. Azor Americano (Cuba). 



Cooper's Hawk is quite common throughout the United States, but probably does 

 not extend its migrations much, if at all, beyond the limits of the Union. It is es- 

 pecially abundant in the Middle States, and particularly so along the banks of the 

 Potomac River. I have received reliable information of its breeding in Vermont, 

 Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. It undoubtedly nests 

 in all the intervening States. Lembeye and Dr. Gundlach give it as a resident 

 of Cuba, and although it has not yet been ascertained to rear its young in that 

 island, such is probably the case. Mr. Gosse did not meet with the Cooper's Hawk 

 in Jamaica. Drs. Gambel and Heermann found it very abundant throughout Cali- 

 fornia. Lieutenant Trowbridge obtained several near San Francisco, and Dr. Cooper 

 others in Washington Territory.' 



My specimens of its eggs from South Carolina were obtained by Messrs. A. D.^ 

 and M. A. Curtis, Jr., the sons of Rev. M. A. Curtis, of Society Hill, in that 

 State. Mr. Curtis, Sen. has kindly furnished me with the following description of 

 its nest : — " The nest of the Cooper's Hawk was built in the triple fork of a tall 

 black gum (Ni/ssa midtifiora), near the top of the tree, which stood in a swamp. 

 The nest was formed of a layer of small sticks, i to -^ inch in diameter. Its external 

 diameter varied from 1^ to 2 feet. This layer was f inch in thickness, with only 



* More recent investigations show this Hawk to be abundant in Texas and New Mexico. The Gov- 

 ernment Survey parties have obtained numerous specimens in both regions. 



- Since the above was prepared for the press, Mr. A. D. Curtis, to whose kindness I am chiefly in- 

 debted for a certain identification of the egg of this Hawk, has been taken from the field in which he 

 had already given so much promise of future distinction, by an early death. The writer cannot omit the 

 occasion to pay the passing tribute of his regard for that which Mr. Curtis had, thus young, contributed 

 to the cause of scientific research, and of his regret for the loss of the rich promise the future seemed 

 to hold out, from his interest, zeal, and intelligent investigation in natural science. 



