146 ZOOLOGY. 



see what has disturbed his poultry yard. I believe it to be a constant resident, and to build 

 in the Territory. — C. 



Cooper's hawk is a common bird of prey in Oregon and Washington Territories. I obtained 

 numerous specimens of it at Puget Sound and Fort Dalles. The characteristic variations in 

 size and color of this bird hold good in Oregon, scarcely any two specimens being there found 

 that are alike. An undoubted specimen of the A. Cooperi, shot at Fort Steilacoom in Sep- 

 tember, 1856, No. 5846, (590,) measured: length, 19; extent, 30 inches.— S. 



ACCIPITEE MEXICANUS, Swain son. 



Blue-backed UaTrk. 



Acdpter ftuxkanui, Sw. Faun. Bos. Am. Birds, p. 45, (1831.) 

 Baibd a-vd Cassin, Gen. Kep. Birds, p. 17. 



gp. Ch. — Almost exactly like A. Ctic^>eri, but smaller ; back more brownish ; throat and nnder tail coverts, white ; other 

 under parts more nifons, with white bars and spots ; dark streaks only on breast. Young much tinged with reddish above ; 

 underneath, yellowish ; each feather streaked and often barred near its base. Female : length, 17 to 18 inches ; wiug, 9J 

 to 10 ; tail, 9 ; extent, about 30. Male : length, 15 to 16 inches ; wing, 9 ; tail, 8. — C. 



This species of hawk I at first took for small individuals of the A. Cooperi, but the smaller 

 size, the larger proportionate size of the tarsi, and other peculiarities, induced me to examine 

 the bird more carefully. Upon comparing the specimens with Cassin's description of -^. Mexi- 

 canus I found that they accorded. 



An individual killed in the summer of 1856, at Port To'svnsend, Puget Sound, was shot near 

 a salt marsh. "While soaring about it resembled in its motions the common marsh hawk, or hen 

 harrier. — S. 



ACCIPITER FUSCUS, Bonaparte. 

 The Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



Faleo fmau and F. dubiui, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 280, 281, (1788.) 



AcdpUer fuscui, Bonaparte, Comp. List, Birds, p. 5. 



A. fusaa, (Gm.) Baieud and Cassix, Gen. Kep., Birds, p. 18. — Newbeket, P. R. E. Kep., vol. TI, Zool., p. 74. 



Falm veloz and F. penmylmniau, Wilson, Am. Om. V, 116, pi. 45, f. 1 and VI, p. 13, pi. 46, f. 1. 

 Sp. Ch.— Almost exactly like the two preceding in color, but much smaller. Young: above brown, beneath like young of 

 A. Cooperi in color. 



Female: length, 12 to 14 in.; wing, 71 to S; tail, 6J to 7 inches, extent about 25 inches. 



Male: length, 11 to 12; wing, 6 to 6i; taU, 5 to SJ. 



No. 8514, (94,) Shoalwater bay, September, 1S54. Length, 11.50; extent, 21.50 inches; male. 



This hawk I have not found common, and have observed only in the colder months. It has 

 habits and flight much like the preceding, but, of course, preys on smaller birds. Its small size 

 and long tail, besides its greater swiftness of wing, make it easily distinguishable from the 

 pigeon hawk when flying. — C. 



The sharp-shinned hawk is quite common near Fort SteUacoom during the latter part of 

 summer and in early autumn. Like the pigeon hawk, they are quite scarce during the breeding 

 season in the more open country about the head of Puget Sound. They appear to descend 

 from the mountains as soon as the young birds are well able to fly, and, in company with many 

 other species of hawk, remain on the prairies for several months before retiring to the south. 

 A few remain throughout the winter. — S. 



