THE ENEMIES OF WILD LIFE 211 
which are either entirely or partially beneficial. In Nova 
Scotia it is the commonest species of hawk, and it ranges 
across Canada to British Columbia, where it is represented 
by a Western subspecies. It normally resides in the forests 
and woodland, from which it makes excursions to the open 
country, and is especially fond of raiding the farmer’s poul- 
try-yard with destructive effect. In its normal haunts it 
preys upon the rabbit and grouse. When rabbits are abun- 
dant these hawks increase in numbers, but with the peri- 
odie disappearance of the rabbit they attack the grouse in 
greater numbers. When the latter birds are reduced in 
numbers through the depredations of these fierce birds, the 
shortage of food drives the hawks farther south, and, as was 
explained in discussing the scarcity of the different species 
of grouse in the prairies, they prove to be one of the worst 
enemies of our game-birds. 
This species and the two species mentioned below are the 
chief predatory enemies of our game-birds, and, inasmuch 
as they destroy large numbers of game and insectivorous 
birds, not to mention the great destruction of poultry that 
they accomplish, their protection cannot be urged, and they 
should be treated as noxious predatory animals. It is im- 
portant, however, that they should be distinguished from 
the many species of hawks that render considerable service 
-to the farmer by destroying noxious rodents, such as gophers, 
moles, and mice, and noxious insects, such as grasshoppers. 
Cooper’s Hawk.—This predatory species is smaller than 
the goshawk, and intermediate in size between it and the 
sharp-shinned hawk. It is not common in eastern Canada, 
and is more abundant in the West; in British Columbia it . 
is generally distributed and tolerably common in the Lower 
Fraser valley. It is a strong and rapid flyer, having a 
quick, darting flight, and its boldness makes it a serious 
enemy of poultry. It can be recognized by its barred tail, 
about as long as its body, and somewhat rounded rather 
