186 BIRDS 



few sticks are arranged in a circular nest, and the parent 

 deposits four to six bluish-white eggs, which are sometimes 

 faintly marked with light brown. 



The males become pugnacious when the intruder ap- 

 proaches the nesting site, in order to monopolize his atten- 

 tion, while the female quietly leaves the nest from the 

 opposite direction. A small clump of willows or second- 

 growth overlooking a stream are favorite nesting sites. 



"Of 124 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry or 

 game birds; 34, other birds; 57, mice; 22, other mammals; 

 14, insects." (Fisher.) 



SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the most daring of our 

 small raptors. We should all have just cause to fear the 

 eagles if they displayed as much savagery in proportion to 

 their size as does this little falcon. 



The birds range from the Atlantic Coast westward to 

 the plains, but are more common in the heavily timbered 

 sections of the Northern States and the southern portions 

 of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. 

 They are partial to groves of coniferous trees, hemlocks 

 bordering a little stream, or tamarack swamps. 



When Mr. Richards, the eminent Connecticut ornithol- 

 ogist, attempted to take a nest, the sharp-shin attacked him 

 with such vigor as to drive him to the ground for his dis- 

 lodged hat. Sharp-shinned hawks have been known to dash 

 against window-panes in an effort to capture canaries. One 

 exciting chase took place between a sharp-shin and a domes- 

 tic pigeon which sought the shelter of a barn. The pursued 



