SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 35 



tints are paler. The difference in size between the two is as 

 2, or even 3, to i. 



Cooper's Hawk is generally distributed throughout North Amer- 

 ica from the fur countries to Mexico (in winter), though most 

 abundant in the southern portions of New England and in the 

 Middle States, where it is fairly common at all seasons. 



It is called " Chicken Hawk " by the Northern farmers. 



SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 



ACCIPITER VELOX. 



Char. The adult may be best described as a small edition of 

 Cooper's Hawk, which it resembles in almost everything but size. The 

 top of the head is bluish, and the cheeks have a reddish tinge. Length 

 of male about 1 1 inches ; female some 2 inches longer. 



Nest. In a tree ; made of twigs, and lined with leaves and grass. 

 Eggs. 3-5 ; bluish white or greenish white blotched with brown ; 

 1.45 X i.iS- 



This bold and daring species possesses all the courageous 

 habits and temerity of the true Falcon ; and if the princely 

 amusement to which these birds were devoted was now in 

 fashion, few species of the genus would be found more san- 

 guinary and pugnacious than the present. The young bird is 

 described by Pennant under the name of the Dubious Falcon, 

 and he remarks its affinity to the European Sparrow Hawk. 

 It is, however, somewhat less, differently marked on the head, 

 and much more broadly and faintly barred below. The nest 

 of our species, according to Audubon, is made in a tree, and the 

 eggs are four or five, grayish white, blotched with dark brown ; 

 they lay about the beginning to the middle of March. The 

 true Sparrow Hawk shows considerable docility, is easily trained 

 to hunt Partridges and Quails, and makes great destruction 

 among Pigeons, young poultry, and small birds of all kinds. 

 In the winter they migrate from Europe into Barbary and 

 Greece, and are seen in great numbers out at sea, making such 

 havoc among the birds of passage they happen to meet in 

 their way that the sailors in the Mediterranean call them 

 Corsairs. Wilson observed the female of our species descend 



