Plate LXIII. 



Fig. 1. AOGIPITER FUSCUS.-Sharpshimied Hawk. 



In Middle and Southern Ohio the Sharp-shinned Hawk is not common, indeed it is almost rare; but in 

 Northern Ohio it is said to be a frequent resident. Dr. Kirtland and Mr. Read wrote of it as a common 

 species about Cleveland. Where found it is probably a permanent resident. It builds in April or May. 



LOCALITY: 



Usually the nest is placed in the fork of a tree in dense woods, preferably pine woods, near a stream ; 

 but in the absence of evergreens, scrubby oaks are chosen. Occasionally the nest is placed in a cavity 

 similar to the Sparrow Hawk's, or even upon the ledge of a rock overhanging a lake or river. 



POSITION : 



When situated in a fork the nest is generally close to the main trunk and is supported like the 

 nest of the Crow. When in a hollow limb it rests upon the floor of the cavity; when upon a rock it 

 is in a concavity upon a horizontal surface. Mr. Audubon found a nest of this species in a hole in the 

 rocks along the bank of the Ohio river, certainly an exceptional position. 



If built in a fork of a tree its distance from the ground may be as little as eight feet, or as much 

 as fifty feet. If upon a rock it may be high above the bottom of the declivity. 



MATERIALS: 



Mr. Kennicott found a nest at Fort Resolution composed entirely of fine spruce twigs and a few bits 

 of the outer bark of the spruce, the latter being placed in the bottom of the cavity for a lining. One of the 

 three nests mentioned by Audubon was in a rock cavity; this was but a slight affair, composed of a few sticks 

 and some grasses carelessly put together. The second was in a hollow limb; the eggs rested upon the 

 wood, no materials having been used. The third was in the fork of an oak, it was an elaborate affair 

 not quite finished. A pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks observed by Mr. William Street, of Easthampton, 

 deserted their nest after having their eggs stolen, and layed four more eggs, one every third day, in an 

 old squirrel's nest. I have seen but one nest of this species. It was in the fork of a small oak, about 

 twelve feet from the ground, in a dense wood two hundred yards from the Scioto river. It was composed 

 entirely of sticks and leaves, the sticks were used as foundation and superstructure, the largest being 

 used first, and the leaves lined the slight cavity formed by them. In diameter it was about twenty inches, 

 though too irregular to be accurately measured. Nests are said to be occasionally well lined with feathers, 

 moss, and other soft materials. 



EGGS: 



The number of eggs in a set varies from three to five, but four is the commonest number. They are 



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