OF NEW ENGLAND. 355 
latitudes as summer-residents. They seem to have a marked 
fondness for home, and return to the same nesting-place, even 
several years, it is said, in succession. Wilson mentions a 
frequent circumstance in their life, which I have never ob- 
served, and says: ‘*‘The Blue Jays have a particular antipathy 
to this bird, and frequently insult it by following and imitating 
its notes so exactly as to deceive even those well acquainted 
with both. In return for all this abuse the Hawk contents 
himself with, now and then, feasting on the plumpest of his 
persecutors ; who are therefore in perpetual dread of him; and 
yet, thro some strange infatuation, or from fear that if they 
lose sight of him he may attack them unawares, the Sparrow 
Ilawk no sooner appears than the alarm is given, and the 
whole posse of Jays follow.” 
(d). The notes of this species are loud and rather shrill, 
but cannot be defined. It may be useful, however, for some 
person familiar with British birds, to know that they were 
thought by Audubon to strongly resemble those of the Eu- 
ropean Kestrel. 
II. ACCIPITER® 
(A) Fuscus. Sharp-shinned Hawk. ‘* Pigeon Hawk.” 
(A common summer-resident in many parts of New Eng- 
land.) 
(a). About twelve inches long. Above, dark brown (be- 
coming ashier with age), with a few white spots, chiefly on the 
hind-head and wings. Tail, lighter, with a few dark bands 
(which are more distinct than those of the wings), and tipped 
with pale brown or whitish. Beneath, white; breast, closely 
barred with light rufous-brown, and throat pencilled, but under 
tail-coverts often unmarked. The shafts of the wing and tail 
have a faint reddish gloss, as have also the basal portion of 
the webs. 
(b). The nest is usually built in a pine, from twenty to forty 
feet above the ground. It is composed chiefly of sticks and 
5 Nisus has been lately established in place of Accipiter. 
