123 



Economic Status. Of 116 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry 

 or game-birds; 34, other birds; 57, mice; 22, other mammals; 7, reptiles; 

 2, frogs; 14, insects; and 1, indeterminate matter. Thus of 144 food 

 contents 41 were harmful, 93 useful, and 10 neutral. Of the 41 harmful 

 items, only 3 were domestic fowl, and the remainder wild stock, consisting 

 of 46 individuals of considerably less value than the domestic varieties. 

 The 99 mice and 22 other mammals included about 117 individuals. 

 The insects were mostly locusts, grasshoppers, and beetles. The balance 

 is evidently in favour of this species which is incapable of taking any 

 fowl but small ones and then only when they wander into its habitat. 

 Keeping spring chickens close about the premises is an almost perfect 

 protection against this bird. Haunting marshes, grassy meadows, and 

 tangled fence-rows as it does it is the natural enemy of field-mice and 

 probably does more to keep their numbers within bounds than any other 

 single natural influence. 



Genera Accipiter and Astur. Accipiters. Short-winged Hawks. 

 General Description. Hawks with short rounded wings and long tail. 



The Accipitrine Hawks are woodland birds which beat about the tree- 

 tops or along the edges of the woods; they do not habitually soar high 

 in the open. They take their prey by surprise and quick attack rather 

 than by open pursuit. Their short wings and long tail, give rapid 

 bursts of speed and flexibility of manoeuvre, but are not suited to 

 sustained effort. 



Economic Status. These are the only common species of Canadian 

 Hawks for which little good can be claimed. They are active and spirited 

 and though without the great strength and endurance of the true Falcons 

 do far more real damage than their larger and heavier relatives. The 

 term " Chicken Hawk " popularly applied to any small Hawk receives 

 its meaning from these birds. They never eat carrion but always make 

 fresh kills, rarely if ever returning to partly devoured prey. Fortunately 

 the two commoner species are the smaller and their capacity for damage 

 is reduced in consequence. The one large and powerful member of the 

 group, the Goshawk, is of more limited distribution and except in unusual 

 winters is rarely seen in the more settled parts of southern Canada. 



332. Sharp-shinned Hawk. CHICKEN HAWK. FB. L'PERVIER BBUN. Accipiter 

 velox. L, 11-25. Plate XII A. 



Distinctions. As a rule, size will distinguish the Sharp-shinned Hawk from all except 

 the Sparrow Hawk, but its evident non-falcon characters will prevent confusion. A large 

 female will measure closely to a small male Cooper's Hawk of which it is a perfect minia- 

 ture in coloration. It differs from that species in having a square instead of a rounded 

 tail, that is, when closed, the outer feathers are quite as long as the inner ones instead of 

 obviously shorter. The tarsus is also comparatively thinner and more slender, a differ- 

 ence that is quite perceptible on comparison of specimens. 



Field Marks. The short, round wings, long tail, and flight by a series of alternating 

 quick, even strokes and short sails will mark this species as an Accipiter. Its tail being 

 square instead of round is a guide to identification from the Cooper's Hawk, but size is 

 the most reliable difference. 



Nesting. In trees, usually conifers, from 10 to 40 feet up. 



Distribution. Over nearly the whole of North America, north, probably, to the tree 

 limits. It breeds in eastern Canada everywhere except in the most southern parts of the 

 lower Great Lakes region. 



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