NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 171 



ten to fifty feet from the ground ; frequently an old Crow's or some other 

 Hawk's nest is fitted up for the purpose, which is occupied for a suc- 

 cession of years, and the nests are often so augmented by the continu- 

 ous adding of brush and rubbish that they become huge structures. 

 May 15, 1880, a collector brought me a set of four eggs taken from an 

 old squirrel's nest. Mr. L. Jones, of Grinnell, Iowa, writes that this 

 Hawk deposits its eggs in that region about the first of May. The 

 number of eggs laid ranges from four to six, rarely the latter number, 

 and they may be found in various sections between April i and May 20. 



The* eggs are of a pale-bluish or greenish-white, usually spotted 

 with pale reddish-brown. Mr. Norris has sets of these eggs that are 

 heavily marked. They measure from 1.80 to 2.10 long by 1.40 to 1.62 

 broad. 



A set of four eggs from Southern Arizona, taken May 15, measure 

 1.90XI.40, 1.95x1.42, 1.92x1.40, 1. 90x1. 42; another set of four col- 

 lected in Central Ohio, April 9, measure 1.89x1.40, 1.92x1.45, 1.93 x 

 1.40, 1.90x1.42. 



334. Accipiter atricapillus (Wils.) [433.] 



American Goshaivk. 



Hab. Northern and Eastern North America; the northern half of United States, a winter resident 

 in some parts. 



A large and handsome hawk — one of the most symmetrical in out- 

 line of the family ; known to breed mostly north of the United States. 

 » Its breeding places are usually in thick evergreen woods, the nest be- 

 ing placed in tall hemlock trees ; it is bulky and composed of sticks, 

 twigs and weeds, lined with bark strips and grass. The eggs are two 

 or three in number, bluish-white, sometimes faintly spotted with yel- 

 lowish-brown. Mr. Norris has two sets of these eggs in his collection ; 

 one of three taken at Kentville, Nova Scotia, April 26, 1888 ; they are 

 bluish-white, unmarked, but nest stained; sizes: 2.25x1.81, 2.36 x 

 1. 71, 2.24 X 1.76 ; the other of two eggs taken in the same locality, May 

 5, 1888, are dull bluish-white and measure 2.14 x 1.79, 2. 13 x 1.83. Aver- 

 age size 2.31 XI.75. 



334a. Accipiter atricapillus striatulus. Ridgw. [433^'.] 



'Western Goshaxirk. 



Hab. Western North America. 



A darker colored race than the foregoing, inhabiting the Pacific 

 coast region, north to Sitka, breeding in the Sierra Nevadas probably 

 as far south as 30°. General habits, nesting, eggs, etc., the same as 

 those of atricapiUiis. Average size of eggs 2.36 x 1.75. 



