366 USEFUL BIRDS. 
Rats and Mice. 
Rats and mice kill some birds. Probably the tree-climbing 
white-footed or deer mouse is one of the greatest enemies 
that birds have among these smaller rodents, but under 
natural conditions it is held in check by Owls. 
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FEATHERED ENEMIES. 
Eagles are growing rare, and the more common Bald 
Eagle feeds mainly on fish, hence it need not be reckoned 
among the enemies of birds, although it may kill a few crip- 
pled Ducks. 
Hawks. 
A very few species of Hawks are probably the most destruc- 
tive native natural enemies of birds. All other Hawks kill 
comparatively few. The Falcons, which are represented 
here by three species, the Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius), 
the Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius), and the Duck Hawk 
(Falco peregrinus anatum), are pernicious. None of. these, 
however, are very common in the State, and for this reason, 
mainly, their depredations are not to be compared with those 
of the bird-killing Hawks. The Sparrow Hawk, a great in- 
sect killer, kills fewer birds than either of the others, and is 
regarded as a friend to the farmer. The other two Falcons 
are uncommon or rare, and therefore kill few birds in this 
State; but there are three species of pernicious Hawks: 
the American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) , the Cooper’s 
Hawk or “Partridge Hawk” (Accipiter coopert?), and the 
Sharp-shinned Hawk or “Chicken Hawk” (Acctpiter velox). 
The Goshawk is an uncommon or periodical winter visitant, 
but the other two are fairly common, and individually are 
probably the most destructive of all the natural enemies of 
birds. They are slaty or bluish above, with rather short, 
rounded wings, and long tails. When flying at any heignt 
they progress by alternate periods of flapping and soaring. 
They may be known by their shape and by their manner 
of flight. 
The Buzzards, or Hen Hawks, so called, get comparatively 
few birds, but some individuals kill poultry. The Red- 
