260 BIRDS OF PREY OF NOVA SCOTIA—GILPIN. 
and also in Newfoundland (Reek’s Zoologist, 1869,) I have never 
seen here, in which Mr. Downs joins me. In its migrations it 
passes perhaps north of us. In ending my remark on our owls, 
I may say that about four I have identified as nesting with us, 
the others winter visitants, and that with the exception of the 
great grey owl, there are excellent specimens of each species in 
the Halifax museum. 
In passing to the diurnal birds of prey, the Falconidz, we find 
more power and strength developed in each individual, though 
denuded of its soft coating, the hind toe (in the owls very small 
comparatively) greatly increased, a greater propensity to use the 
claw than bill, and a greater ardor of temperament, and power 
of wing action. This family naturally separates itself into the 
harriers, the falcons, the hawks, the buzzards, and the eagles. 
I mean as regards Nova Scotia, since the kites end vultures 
never come to us. Of the harriers, resembling the owls ina 
facial circle, we have one species (C. cyaneus), a geographical 
variety of the old world harriers. He is common, and most pro- 
bably breeds with us, as he is seen during that season, but I have 
no note of his nesting. He leaves us during November, the 
swamps then being frozen, and the mice, reptiles and snakes, his 
usual food, hybernating. He is seen beating our new mown 
fields and swamps, but never hunting the shores abounding with 
shore birds. The females and young are much more abundant 
than the slate grey male. In his habits he resembles the buz- 
zard, as he does somewhat in bill and claws. In the next family 
of hawks we have the sharp shin (A. fuscus), Cooper’s hawk (A. 
cooperil), and the goss hawk (A. atricapillus); this family in- 
cluding two genera, Astur and Atricapillus. The sharp shin is, 
perhaps, our most common hawk. I have noted him in May and 
in December. Little doubt he breeds with us, though I do not. 
know his nest. Though slenderer than the falcons, his bill 
lighter, and upper mandible scarcely notched, he is by no means 
their inferior in audacity and headlong pounce. One broke the 
glass of Mr. Downs’ aviary in attacking a canary, seen through. 
He will often attack caged birds hanging in country houses, and 
even enter the city for the same game. Cooper’s hawk (A. 
