196 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



and feet are relatively longer and more slender than in the other, the 

 term " sharp-shinned " being no misnomer. They all seem to retire 

 from Ontario in the fall, for none are obsei-ved during winter. 



In the spring they appear about the middle of April, and are soon 

 common throughout the country, making their way north through 

 British America to Alaska, where, Mr. Nelson says, they are much 

 prized by the natives, who use their feathers for shafting their arrows 

 and for ornamenting their dancing costumes. 



This species, Dr. Fisher says, lives entirely on flesh, and is so- 

 destructive to small birds, young grouse and chickens that "it should 

 be killed whenever possible." If it could only be compelled to confine 

 its attention to the European House Sparrow, it would soon repay us 

 for all the other damage it has done. 



ACCIPITER COOPERI (BONAP.). 

 141. Cooper's Hawk. (333) 



Feet, moderately stout; bare portion of tarsus shorter than middle toe; 

 scutellse, remaining distinct ; tail, a little rounded. Colors and their changes as 

 in A. velox; larger. Male: 16-18 ; wing, 9-10; tail, 7-8. Female: 18-20; 

 wing, 10-11 ; tail, 8-9. Whole foot, 4 or more. 



HAB. North America in general, south to southern Mexico. 



Nest, in trees, mostly in evergreens. The deserted nest of some other 

 species is often used. 



Eggs, four or five, white, tinged with green; sometimes faintly spotted 

 with brown. 



This is one of the Chicken Hawks, and it well deserves the name 

 from the havoc it makes among the poultry. It is most common in 

 spring and fall, but sometimes appears suddenly in winter, and 

 shortens the days of Passer domesiicus when nothing better is 

 available. 



Cooper's Hawk breeds sparingly throughout Southern Ontario, 

 apparently preferring the vicinity of large marshes, where Blackbirds r 

 Rails, etc., are easily obtained. 



Extraordinary migrations of hawks are sometimes seen in the fall r 

 when for two or three days in succession, along a certain section of 

 country, individuals of this and the preceding species are continually 

 in sight. Flocks of this description have often been observed at 

 Point Pelee, near the western extremity of Lake Erie r where the- 



