358 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



more often at the junction of two branches with the trunk, 

 from forty to sixty feet above the ground. Such are the nests 

 observed near Boston, where the eggs are laid in the first week 

 of May. Of these, the usual set of three or four average about 

 1*90 X 1*50 of an inch, and are white, tinged with blue (some- 

 times deeply), either unmarked, or with a few brown blotches. 



(c). The Cooper's Hawks are common summer-residents in 

 all the States of New England, but in man}' places are much 

 less numerous than other species. Their general habits and 

 manners are essentially the same as those of the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawks, but they have much less " dash," and are not so bold. 

 They are easily distinguished by their size. They may usually 

 be seen flying just above the trees with a flapping of the wings, 

 then a straight and rather measured sail, for they rarely move 

 in circles. They feed upon rabbits, squirrels, water-fowl, and 

 other birds, but not often on the smaller kinds, as I have seen 

 these near them, or about their nests, disregarded. They may 

 be seen to pursue flocks of wild pigeons or other migrants with 

 a beat of the wings as rapid as that of their victims, and seiz- 

 ing one to bear it to some grove. Sometimes, in passing 

 through the woods, they suddenly pounce upon the Ruffed 

 Grouse, for the} r do not hesitate to grapple with creatures much 

 larger than themselves. At other times, J-hey mark a Robin, 

 and follow it wherever it goes, dashing between branches, 

 through trees, and over the fields, rarely being disappointed 

 in the end. If possible, the}- carry their prey to the woods, 

 and I am inclined to think that during a continued residence 

 in one place, they often resort to the same tree. They are well 

 known to the farmers as "Chicken" Hawks. 



(t?). Their cries suggest the exclamation of an alarmed hen, 

 and consist of several successive notes, which Audubon con- 

 sidered similar to those of the Pigeon Hawk. 



IV. ASTUR 



(A) PALUMBARIUS (var. ATRiCApiLLUs). (American) Gos- 

 hawk. l c Pa rtridge Hawk" 



(In Massachusetts, a resident throughout the year, but very 

 rare in the breeding-season and summer.) 



