10 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 
species of Accipiter resemble each other closely in color 
and markings, and are distinguishable only by the 
difference in their size. They are brown above, with 
a large round white dot on the feathers of shoulder 
and back; underparts white with brown streaks 
(see No. lla on plate); tail black and gray bars, 
of about even width. 
The Goshawk is a fine hawk; though more lightly 
built than the Buteos he makes up by his extraordinary 
boldness for what he lacks in strength. He will some- 
times sit on the roof of a hen-house, pick up a hen in 
the yard, and carry her off. He is somewhat rare 
here, and comes to us only as a straggler, his real home 
being to the northward. 
11. COOPER'S HAWK. Aeeipiter coopers. 
— Length, 19 inches. Bluish gray above; under- 
parts white, thickly barred with reddish buff; tail 
with black and gray bars, and rownded at the end. 
Males and females are alike, and the young, 11a, are 
similar to young Goshawks. This is our common 
Chicken-hawk, and stays with us throughout the year, 
though less numerous in winter. 
12. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.  § Accipiter 
velox. — Length, 12 inches. Exactly like a small 
Cooper’s Hawk, except that the tail is square at the 
end. Both these hawks are very destructive to chick- 
ens and game birds, even more so than the larger 
hawks, as they overmatch the strength of the latter 
by their own swiftness and boldness. 
18. DUCK-HAWK. PEREGRINE FALCON. 
Falco peregrinus anatum. — Length, 17 inches. 
Bluish gray above; underparts light buff and white, 
streaked, barred, and spotted with black. It has a 
conspicuous black patch under the eye, and the sharp 
tooth on the upper bill that is characteristic of all 
falcons. The young are similar, but blackish brown 
above. In flight this hawk resembles a pigeon. It 
