Birds of Indiana. 770 



This Hawk is an exact copy of the Sharp-shiimed Hawk^ only it is 

 larger. For that reason it is more destructive to large poultry, larger 

 birds and pigeons. It is, in fact, the Chicken-hawk. Big Blue Hawk, 

 Big Blue-tailed Hawk, Long-tailed Dart or Darter are some of its com- 

 mon names. In birds examined by me in fall and winter, one-half the 

 food was small birds. They were also found to have eaten rabbits 

 and mice. Of 133 stomachs of this Hawk reported upon by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, 34 contained poultry or game birds; 

 53, other birds; 11, mammals; 1, frog; 3, lizards; 2, insects, and 39 were 

 empty. Dr. A. K. Fisher says it is by fax the most destructive species 

 we have to contend with. This is another, the chief one, of the in- 

 jurious hawks. 



This and the last species have learned that European Sparrows, 

 usually called English Sparrows, are good eating and are fre- 

 quently easily obtained, and in many localities have fed upon them in 

 great numbers. In this way, at least, they are doing good service by 

 destroying this imported pest. The characteristics of this species 

 should be known, so that its attacks may be combated. Farmers and 

 poultry-raisers should become thoroughly familiar with it. The ag- 

 gregate damage done far exceeds that of all other birds of prey. 



Subgenus Astur Lac^pede. 



133. (334), Accipiter atrieapUlus (Wils.). 



Americau Crosliawk. 



Adult. — Above, bluish slate color, with blackish shaft streaks; top 

 of head, deep black; tail, crossed by four dusky bands; below, white, 

 thickly barred with narrow zigzag lines of gray; feathers often 

 streaked in middle with dusky. Immature. — Above, dusky grayish, 

 feathers margined' with buff; below, whitish or pale buff, with narrow 

 stripes of blackish. 

 Length, 31.00-25.00; wing, 13.00-13.45; tail, 9.50-13.75. (Fisher). 

 Eange. — Forthward. Worth America, from north Mexico, Kansas, 

 Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia northward. Breeds from Maine 

 northward; south in Eocky Mountains to California. 



Nest, high up in large trees, of sticks, twigs, weeds, lined with grass 

 and' bark. Hggs, 3-5; soiled white, sometimes faintly blotched with 

 brown; 3.31 by 1.74. 

 ' Eare winter visitor. Dr. F. Stein writes me he identified it in the 

 lower 'Wabash Valley. Mr. E. E. Quick reports it from near Brook- 

 ville in January, 1881 . Mr. J. G. Parker writes me of its occurrence 

 in Lake County in April, 1889. 



