CHAPTER VII. 



DECEMBER 6. I received three fine female 

 birds of the American goshawk, which had 

 been trapped at Beaver Bank, a place 

 some distance north of Halifax, where 

 they had been making great havoc amongst 

 the " rabbits." In fact, when skinning 

 these individuals, I found that one had its 

 crop crammed with the flesh of the animal mentioned, 

 but the crops of the other two were nearly empty. 

 These birds appear to pass southward about this time 

 from their more northerly breeding limits, judging from 

 the frequency with which they are to be met with in the 

 province at this season. 



This large and symmetrical hawk is one of the 

 commonest of the larger birds of prey in Nova Scotia 

 during the latter part of the year and again in the early 

 spring, and it also breeds in many parts of the province, 

 but I am not sure whether it is to be found there 

 throughout the entire winter or not. 



Years ago, within the memory of Mr. Downs, this 

 fine species bred near Three Mile House, in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of Halifax, but at the present day it 

 is not found breeding within, perhaps, twelve or four- 

 teen miles of the city. In the great undisturbed tracts 

 of forest, however, particularly in the western portion of 

 the province, it breeds somewhat commonly. I have 

 examined several nests and eggs which were taken in 



