IIA WKS. 307 



seize as they pass, more commonly — especially in the case of email birds — chasing 

 and seizing theiu while on the wing, and then retiring to some neighboring dead tree, 

 or more seohuled spot, to dispose of their game. 



They nt-st in tall trees and lay from throe to six eggs, those of Cooper's hawk 

 being usually bluish-white and uiis]iotted; those of the sharp-shinned nearly white, 

 heavily blotched and spotted with dark brown. 



Fin. m. — /lcei/>i<«r nuiu, sparrow-hawk. 



As already remarked, the species of this genus are quite numerous and found in 

 almost every part of the world. Tlit'ir iiabits .seem to be essentially the same cvery- 

 \\ Ill-re, and while the tints of their jilumage are seldom striking and never brilliant, 

 black, white, slaty blues and red-browns being the commonest, — yet the pattern of 

 coloration always gives a pleasing Effect. In size there is no great variation, Coojier's 

 hawk, with a length of less than eighteen inches, being among the largest, while the 

 smallest is probably .1. tiiius of South America, large specimens of which do not 

 exceed a foot in length, while small males measure only about nine inches. 



