ACCIPITER COOPERI : COOPER S HAWK. 1 05 



scribed beyond as F. columbarius, and local naturalists 

 should be careful to make the proper discrimination, 

 especially when they speak of the nest and eggs. The 

 present is much more abundant than the true Pigeon 

 Hawk, and in most sections one of our best known 

 birds of prey. It preys chiefly upon small birds and 

 quadrupeds, captured in the dashing manner of all the 

 species of this group, and, like its small allies, feeds to 

 some extent upon insects ; the size of its quarry is some- 

 times not inferior to that of the bold hunter itself, and 

 nothing can surpass the impetuosity with which this 

 Hawk makes its attacks. It nests in trees, or on rocks, 

 preferably the former, laying four or five eggs. They 

 are difficult of concise description, because so variable. 

 The white ground-color has often a livid or even purplish 

 tint, and is marked, often so thickly as to be obscured, 

 with large, irregular splashes of various shades of brown, 

 interminably changeable in number, size, and pattern, 

 sometimes inclining to form masses or a wreath, some- 

 times more evenly distributed. The egg is of nearly 

 equal size at both ends, and measures about 1.45 by 

 1.15. The bird is a late breeder, laying commonly the 

 latter part of May, and early in June. The nest is 

 usually placed high in a tree, preferably an evergreen, 

 and built of sticks or twigs, in the crotch of a limb, but 

 sometimes the deserted nest of a squirrel is selected 

 and repaired to suit. 



COOPER'S HAWK; CHICKEN HAWK. 

 ACCIPITER COOPERI Bp. 



Chars. Coloration and changes of plumage the same as those of 

 A. fuscus. Form stouter, and size much greater. Feet moder- 



