OF NEW ENGLAND. 357 



the patience to sail protractedly. On following his prey, he 

 does so as if attracted by an irresistible magnet, his move- 

 ments being instantly simultaneous with those of his quarry. 

 He generally carries off his food, and eats it in a tree. But 

 his prowess in comparison with his size is astonishing, and he 

 often pounces upon birds much larger or heavier than himself. 

 I have seen him fall upon Pigeon Woodpeckers, and upon 

 plump Quail. In such cases, he feeds upon the ground, but it 

 is useless to rescue his victims, as they are almost invariably 

 found to be dead or past all recoveiy. These Hawks are said by 

 Audubon to act often in concert, but they usually hunt singly. 

 I have seen the Goldfinches escape from their clutches by 

 mounting above them, even until almost lost to sight, but most 

 birds, terrified by the fury of their onslaught, instinctively 

 dive into thickets or trees, which unfortunately afford them but 

 little protection. Whatever feelings of anger and indefinite 

 longings for revenge may be excited by the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawks, one cannot but admire their intrepidity and spirit. 

 Though they feed partly upon insects, yet they must be con- 

 sidered eminently destructive, and be ranked among the auda- 

 cious marauders who unhesitatingly plunder the farm. It is 

 common to find traces of their murders in carefully picked 

 bones or scattered f feathers, along the wood-paths where they 

 have secured some prize. 



(d). Their notes are loud and shrill, but are not often heard 

 except in spring. 



(B) COOPERI. Cooper's Hawk. " Chicken Hawk." 



(In New England, a summer-resident.) 



(a). About eighteen inches long. Tail slightly rounded. 

 " Neck often marked with rufous." Otherwise like the Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk (A). 



(b). The nest has a strong outward resemblance to that of 

 the Crow, and sometimes an imperfect resemblance throughout. 

 It is composed chiefly of sticks, which are neatly laid together 

 near the top of a pine, a rather slender tree being not un fre- 

 quently chosen. It is placed either in the topmost crotch, or 



