28 BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 



of coarse twigs, in a crotch of a haw tree, the brim of the nest being only 

 nine feet from the ground. The structure varied between ten and twelve 

 inches in width and the cavity was one and one-half inches deen. No lining 

 had been made to the nest. It contained four eggs. They are extremely 

 handsome, being a very light greenish blue, heavily blotched with very 

 dark brown. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts bluish gray, darker on top of 

 head; tail crossed by dark bands; lower parts whitish, the breast and 

 sides streaked with dark brown; length 10-12 inches. 



333. COOPER'S HAWK. Accipiter cooperii. 



Cooper's hawk is not nearly so common in this region as its congener, 

 the sharp-shinned hawk. I see it only several times a year, and have 

 not found it nesting, though this is probably due to lack of more extended 

 observation. 



Distinguishing features: Like the sharp-shinned hawk, but larger, 

 length 14-17 inches; sides of head and breast tinged with bluish gray. Gen- 

 erally the female hawk is noticeably larger than the male. 



334. AMERICAN GOSHAWK. Accipiter atricapillus. 



Though the identification may not be satisfactory, I am, strongly in- 

 clined to believe that the following records apply to the American goshawk, 

 and I give them for what they are worth. On September 28, 1898, while 

 attending the Fergus County fair at Lewistown, I noted a hawk fly over the 

 fair grounds. It was a raw, chill afternoon, and the bird in question was 

 flying low, so that it passed not many feet above my head. It appeared 

 somewhat larger than a Cooper's hawk, was trimly-built and rather stocky, 

 showing much white underneath, and in flight showed heavy black lines 

 from the bill along the side of the head. The upper parts were the usual 

 dark slaty blue. March 1, 1900, a hawk a little larger than Cooper's was 

 noted sitting on the gable of a carpenter's shop in Lewistown. It was 

 in plain view to me as I passed along the street a little more than half a 

 block away. My idea at the time was that the hawk had been attracted by 

 the pigeons belonging to a loft nearby. After sitting quietly for a few min- 

 utes, the hawk arose in flight and flapped away over town. It is question- 

 able whether a Cooper's hawk would be abroad on the first day of March 

 fn this locality. Again, early in February, 1901, I noted a hawk flying over 

 Lewistown in the early afternoon. I was in the school-room, and could 

 give the bird but slight attention at the time, but I managed to move o 

 as to follow the remainder of its course until it disappeared from my view. 

 It then occurred to me that it would be unusual for a Cooper's hawk to be 

 noted at such a time, and that as the bird under observation appeared to 

 be rather larger than the Cooper's it was not improbable that the species 

 in question might prove to be Accipiter atricapillus, which undoubtedly oc- 

 curs in this region. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts clear slate blue; tail crossed 

 by four darker bands; lower parts white, barred with bluish gray; length 

 20-24 inches. 



