Genus ACCIPITER, Brisson. 



(Jen. Char. Size rather small ; wings short, and tail rather long ; tarsi long antl slender, 

 with the scales in front frequtntly nearly obsolete. 



This genus contains about twenty species, two of which are 

 found in Canada. Tliey frequent woods and borders of clearings, 

 and prey upon small birds, squirrels, mice and insects. 



Accipiter Cooperi, (Bonaparle) Gkay. 



COOPER'S HAWK ; " CHICKEN HAWK." 

 PL,ATK VIII. 



This elegantly-formed Hawk is considered extremely rare in 

 Canada, it being perhaps only represented by about halt a dozen 

 specimens altogether in our public and private collections. A 

 circumstance, however, connected with the individual figured on this 

 plate, causes me to suspect that it may be of more common occur- 

 rence than is ordinarily supposed : this is explained by the follow- 

 ing extract from my note-book for the )ear 1866 — " I have been 

 surprised in ni)- wanderings to observe the general ignorance 

 which everywhere prevails respecting this class of birds (Hawks 

 and Owls). The Eagle is a tolerably well known bird with most 

 of the people we meet, but all Hawks are ' only common Hen 

 Hawks ' or ' Pigeon Hawks,' and all Owls ' only common Owls.' 

 But how many a valuable specimen have I rescued from igno- 

 miny, and secured for my list and our collections, by seeking 

 out some of these ' onlys ' which had been either thrown on the 

 manure heap, or strung up — as was the rare and beautiful Cooper's 

 Hawk obtained by chance to-day — as a scare-crozv!' When Cassin 

 has admitted that Cooper's Hawk is " rather a difficult species 

 to the ornithologists on account of the great variations in its colors, 

 and in size also," and that " it is, in fact, unusual to find two alike 

 in a dozen specimens," we cannot be surprised to find that in 

 Canada, where but few individuals occur, very little should be 



