40' COOPER'S HAWK— "CHICKEN HAWK." 



from r.8o by 1.55 to 2.10 by 1.60 — figures showing the variation 

 both in size and shape ; they average about 1.90 by 1.50. They 

 resemble those of the Marsh Hawk so closely as to be not certainly 

 distinguishable, but they are usually more globular, and with a 

 more granulated shell. The greatest diameter is at or very near 

 the middle ; difference in shape of the two ends is rarely apprecia- 

 ble. All were more uniform in color than those of most Hawks, 

 resembling the pale scarcelj" marked examples occasionally laid by 

 most kinds of Hawks ; none -were conspicuously dark-marked. 

 The ground is white, faintly tinted with livid or greenish-gray ; if 

 marked, it is with faint, sometimes almost obsolete, blotches of 

 drab, liable to be overlooked without close inspection ; only an 

 occasional specimen is found with decided, though still dull and 

 sparse, markings of pale brown. Three or four eggs are the 

 usual nest complement ; in the Northern and Middle States they 

 are laid in May." This species is not found in the fur countries, 

 but only in the southern portions of Canada and southward. It 

 is a fierce and courageous bird, preying upon birds much larger 

 than itself and hares. Audubon relates an instance in which one 

 of these birds grappled with and killed a full-grown cock. It has 

 been occasionally tamed, and Dr. Coues, in his " Birds of the 

 North-West," grives a most interesting and sinojular account of 

 this, as observed by himself In Newfoundland Cooper's Hawk 

 is a summer migrant, and is not uncommon. It is rather abundant 

 on the coast of the Atlantic, but it is comparatively rare in the 

 western countries of the United States. 



Sp. Char. Adult, Head above brownish black, mixed with white on the occiput, other 

 upper parts dark ashy brown, with the shafts of the feathers brownish black ; an obscure rufous 

 collar on the neck behind ; throat and under tail coverts white, the former with lines of dark 

 brown — other under parts transversely barred with light rufous white ; Quills ashy brown, with 

 darker bands and white irregular markings on tiieir inner webs ; tail dark cinereous, tipped with 

 white, anil with four wide bands of brownish black. 



Young. Head and neck beh'nd yellowish white, tinged with rufous, and with longitudinal 

 stripes and oblong spots of brown ; other uppe rparts light amber brown, with large, partially 

 concealed spots and bars of white ; upper tail coverts tipped with white ; under parts white with 

 narrow longitudinal stripes of light brown ; tail as in adult ; bill bluish horn color ; tarsi yellow. 



Female — Total length : i8 to 20 inches ; wing, 10 to 1 1 ; tail, 8j4 inches. 

 Male — " " : 16 to 18 inches ; wing, ijyi to 10 ; tail, 8 inches. 



