ZOOLOGY. 145 



This bird I met with in a dense spruce forest, where it was devouring a squirrel on the 

 ground. It flew into a tall tree, and was so closely concealed that I only discovered it after a 

 long search b_y seeing its tail move. I afterwards shot a beautiful specimen in full plumage, 

 which came darting like lightning through the dark forest, and alighted so near me that I could 

 see its flashing eye; but not being killed at once, it managed to escape among some underbrush 

 and log^, where I sought it for an hour in vain. It would seem to be the special frequenter of 

 dark woods, where other hawks are rarely seen. — C. 



I obtained several specimens of the American goshawk, both at Fort Dalles and at Fort 

 Steilacoom. The specimens collected were in different stages of plumage, one being a very 

 fine specimen of the adult. 



This hawk is bold, swift, and strong. It does not hesitate to sweep into a poultry yard, catch 

 up a chicken and make off with it almost in a breath. The manner of seizing its prey is by a 

 horizontal approach for a short distance, elevated but a few feet from the ground, a sudden 

 downward sweep or side glance, and then, without stopping its flight, making its Avay to a 

 neighboring tree or its nest with the struggling victim securely fastened in its talons. 



Considering the size of this bird, for strength, intrepidity, and fury, it cannot be surpassed, 

 these qualities almost rendering it feline in its character. It is also quite cunning, seizing very 

 ojjportune moments for its attacks. It was not until many days that I was able to have a bird 

 of this kind killed, although men were constantly on the watch for him. So adroit was he at 

 seizing opportunities to make his attacks, that he would regularly visit our poultry yard twice 

 and oven thrice in a day, and yet always contrived to escape unmolested. 



This species is frequently known among the Oregonians as the "Wite hawk." The goshawk 

 is found earlier than the others, and three specimens which I obtained were in most elegant 

 adult plumage. Why the birds of this family become so plentiful for a few months I am unable 

 to say, but think that, as above stated, having bred in the retired recesses of the Cascade and 

 Coast ranges of mountains, they remain until their young are well able to fly, when they all 

 descend to the open plains, where they can obtain a more abundant supply of food, such as 

 finches, larks, robins, doves, band-tailed pigeons, meadow mice, moles, gophers, young rabbits, 

 and even grasshoppers. — S. 



ACCIPITER COOPERI, Gray. 



Cooper's Ilawk. 



FaJco Cooperii, Bonap. Am. Orn. II, 1, (182S.) 



Acdpiler SlanUii, Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 180, 1831). 



Ampiter Cooperi, Grav, List Hrit. Mus., p. 38; Gen. B. sp. G. (Bos ) Baird & Cassi.v, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. IG. 



Astur Cooperi, Newberry, P. R. R. Rep., vol. VI, Zool. p. 74. 



Figures.— Bnnap. Am. Orn. II, pi. 10, f. 1 Aud. B. of Am., pi. 3(3, 141, f. 3; oct. ed. 1, pi. 124. 



Sp. Ch. — Above, ashy brown, darker on head and mixed with white ; below, white, throat with narrow streaks, the rest with 

 light rufous bars. Tail, dark cinereous, with four wide black bars. Young, pale bPown above, mottled with white and rufous ; 

 beneath, white, with narrow light brown stripes. 



Female: length, 18 to 20 inches; wing, 10 to 11; tail, 8.50. Male: length, 16 to 18; wing, 9.50 to 10; tail, 8 inches. 



Tliis hawk is commonly confounded with others, under the name of "chicken hawk." It is 

 very abundunt in summer, and often killed about farm yards, where it seizes on chickens before 

 the very eyes of the owner, darting down like lightning and disappearing again before he can 

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