188 BIRDS 



sharp-shinned hawk. During severe weather goshawks visit 

 the United States, sometimes reaching the Gulf States. 

 The majority of them hreed north of the United States, 

 although they are occasionally met with in the Allegheny 

 ^Mountains and in the northern portions of ^Michigan. 

 Goshawks are frequently reported from the New Eng- 

 land States in small flocks, ranging from six to a dozen in 

 number. 



Mt. Charles Richards, of Connecticut, tells me these 

 birds are great enemies of the ruffed grouse. He recalls the 

 experience of his hunting companion, who flushed a grouse 

 and before the sportsman could shoot a goshawk struck the 

 grouse in midair, descending with it to the ground one hun- 

 dred yards ahead of the hunter. Before the sportsman 

 could kill the hawk it had torn the flesh from half the 

 breast. 



Goshawks frequently visit the barnyards to raid the 

 dovecotes and poultry yards. On a Xew England farm a 

 goshawk attacked a flock of chickens, which rushed through 

 the rear door of the farmhouse into the kitchen, followed by 

 the hawk. It attacked one of the hens, when the farmer 

 felled the bird with his walking stick. Tliis bird, like the 

 accipiters, should be shot at sight. 



The goshawk nests usually in coniferous trees, placing 

 their nests of sticks, t^vigs, and weeds, lined with bark and 

 moss, well towards the top of a hemlock or pine. Two or 

 three pale bluish-white eggs are laid. 



*' Of 28 stomachs examined, 9 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 2, other birds; 10, mammals; 3, insects, and 8 were 

 empty." (Fisher.) 



