—3i— 



and as the same localities were abundantly populated by small 

 birds which the sharp-shinned hawk is known to prey upon, 

 there was little occasion for it to stir far abroad. Indeed, it is 

 unusual for this hawk to be found far from its nesting site; 

 if either of a pair is observed foraging regularly in a thicket in 

 the early breeding season, a nest is likely to be found in the 

 vicinity at the appropriate time. 



A nest of the sharp-shinned hawk was taken on July 3, in 

 the swamp woods at the right of Swan Hiver. A most admira- 

 ble site had been selected. Two large birches grew in a clump 

 of fir trees, so that the stems of the birches and a fir formed 

 a triangle measuring about two feet on each side. The nest 

 was made on fir branches between the two birches, eight feet 

 from the ground, being thus exposed to view only upon one 

 side. It was a mass of small twigs fifteen inches in diameter, 

 the cavity being six inches across and one and one-half inche3 

 deep. As is usually the case in the architecture of this hawk, 

 there was nothing whatever to serve as lining. The com- 

 plement was four handsomely marked eggs, well advanced in 

 incubation. 



The eggs of this set are quite variable in marking, follow- 

 ing the rule with eggs of the sharp-shinned hawk. The gen- 

 eral ground color is pale bluish-white. Upon this two of the 

 eggs have their larger ends entirely covered with blotches of 

 bright umber, the thickness of the markings giving the ap- 

 pearance of one large blotch. Over the remainder of their sur- 

 faces there are scattering marks of the same color. The third 

 egg has the blotches arranged in a wreath around the smaller 

 end, forming a likeness to a band of pale umber, with scatter^ 

 ing marks upon the remainder of the surface. The fourth 

 egg has the markings chiefly upon the larger end, but not so 

 solidly as in the case of the two first described; in addition, 

 the fourth egg has several prominent blotches of blackish brown, 

 seemingly upon the umber markings. Of the eggs of this 

 species, Oliver Davie says: "The eggs of the sharp-shinned 

 hawk, Mr. ISTorris states, are subject to great variation in 

 markings, and yet, as a rule, they can be identified at a glance. 

 With the exception of the sparrow hawk, they are the smallest 

 laid by any of the hawks found in North America, and among 

 the most beautiful eggs of any of the Raptores. Their ground 

 color varies from bluish-white to grayish-white, spotted, 

 blotched, speckled, streaked and clouded with light fawn color. 



