238 BEACH GRASS 



large mouse, after another with a cottontail rab- 

 bit. It is one of our most beneficial hawks and, 

 like all the buteos, which, alas, are ignorantly 

 classed as "hen hawks," almost never touches a 

 feather. 



I shall never forget an incident which proved 

 the beneficial character of one of this species to 

 an English game-keeper who was imbued with 

 the belief that all hawks are noxious vermin. 

 It was at the heath hen reservation at Marthas 

 Vineyard and the keeper in question had killed 

 a rough-legged hawk which, from its size, he had 

 deemed the arch enemy of his flock. The stomach 

 of his victim was distended to its full capacity, 

 and maintaining my expectation of mice, I opened 

 it before him. Instead of finding, as the keeper 

 had predicted, young heath hens within, we found 

 the stomach stuffed with the fur and bones of 

 field-mice: not a feather was to be found. My 

 triumph was complete and the reputation of the 

 hawk was saved, but I doubt if it disturbed the 

 keeper's belief. 



Of the accipitrine group, the smallest is the 

 sharp-shinned hawk, next larger the Cooper's 



