62 



CHAPTER XIII. 



f MUST by no means omit to mention one 

 y little hawk, which is to be found breeding 

 not so very uncommonly in some parts of 

 ) Nova Scotia during the spring. This is 

 r the sharp-shinned hawk of Wilson — a 

 dashing and interesting little species, and 

 Jr^ 7 one, moreover, which appears to have less 



traducers than others of its kindred. There 

 seems, indeed, little in its habits or mode of living, to 

 gain for it human enemies, its prey comprising for the 

 most part small birds, lizards, red squirrels, or the 

 larger kinds of insects. Its flight is more than usually 

 rapid and erratic ; its whole mode of action, indeed, 

 being spirited and fierce. 



As with other birds of prey, the female bird is the 

 larger in size, being about thirteen inches in total length, 

 while the male is nearly two inches less, and also differs 

 somewhat in plumage. 



I have not myself found the nest of the sharp- shinned 

 hawk in Nova Scotia. The bird is described as pre- 

 ferring a cedar swamp for the purpose of nidification, 

 but pine trees are also undoubtedly made use of. The 

 nest is placed at a height varying from ten or fifteen, up 

 to forty feet or more from the ground. It resembles to 

 some extent the nest of our sparrow-hawk (Accipiter 

 nisus), being constructed of sticks, sometimes as much 

 as half an inch in diameter, and neatly lined with small 

 twigs, yet with no softer material than these for the eggs 



