370 LAND-BIRDS. 



in high latitudes as summer residents. They seem to have a 

 marked fondness for home, and return to the same nesting- 

 place, even several years, it is said, in succession. Wilson 

 mentions a frequent circumstance in their life, which I have 

 never observed, and says : " The Blue Jays have a particular 

 antipathy to this bird, and frequently insult it by following 

 and imitating its notes so exactly as to deceive even those well 

 acquainted with both. In return for all this abuse the Hawk 

 contents himself with, now and then, feasting on the plumpest 

 of his persecutors; who are therefore in perpetual dread of 

 him ; and yet thro some strange infatuation, or from fear that 

 if they lose sight of him he may attack them unawares, the 

 Sparrow Hawk no sooner appears than the alarm is given, and 

 the whole posse of Jays follow." 



d. The notes of this species are loud and rather shrill, but 

 cannot be denned. It may be useful, however, for some per- 

 son familiar with British birds, to know that they were thought 

 by Audubon to resemble strongly those of the European Kes- 

 trel. 



III. ACCIPITER. 



A. VELOX. Sharp-shinned Hawk. "Pigeon Hawk" 

 A common summer resident in many parts of New Eng- 

 land.* 



a. About twelve niches long. Above, dark brown (becom- 

 ing ashier with age), with a few white spots, chiefly on the 

 hind-head and wings. Tail, lighter, with a few dark bands 

 (which are more distinct than those of the wings), and tipped 

 with pale brown or whitish. Beneath, white ; breast, closely 

 barred with light rufous brown, and throat penciled, but under 

 tail-coverts often unmarked. The shafts of the wing and tail 

 have a faint reddish gloss, as have also the basal portion of 

 the webs. 



b. The nest is usually built in a pine, from twenty to forty 

 feet above the grouncl. It is composed chiefly of sticks and 



* Found throughout New England still less numerously yet very regularly 



very commonly and generally during in winter at least in eastern Massa- 



the migrations, sparingly and some- chusetts. W. B. 

 what locally in the breeding-season, 



