HAWKS AND EAGLES. 373 



b. The nest has a strong outward resemblance to that of 

 the Crow, and sometimes an imperfect resemblance through- 

 out. It is composed chiefly of sticks, which are neatly laid to- 

 gether near the top of a pine, a rather slender tree being not 

 unfrequently chosen. It is placed either in the topmost 

 crotch, or more often at the junction of two branches with the 

 trunk, from forty to sixty feet above the ground. Such are 

 the nests observed near Boston, where the eggs are laid in the 

 first week of May. Of these, the usual set of three or four 

 average about 1.90 X 1.50 of an inch, and are white, tinged 

 with blue (sometimes deeply), either unmarked, or with a few 

 brown blotches. 



c. The Cooper's Hawks are common summer residents in 

 all the States of New England, but in many places are much 

 less numerous than other species. Their general habits and 

 manners are essentially the same as those of the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawks, but they have much less " dash," and are not so bold. 

 They are easily distinguished by their size. They may usu- 

 ally be seen flying just above the trees with a flapping of the 

 wings, then a straight and rather measured sail, — for they 

 rarely move in circles. They feed upon rabbits, squirrels, 

 water-fowl, and other birds, but not often on the smaller kinds, 

 as I have seen these near them, or about their nests, disre- 

 garded. They may be seen to pursue flocks of wild Pigeons 

 or other migrants with a beat of the wings as rapid as that of 

 their victims, and, seizing one, to bear it to some grove. Some- 

 times, in passing through the woods, they suddenly pounce 

 upon the Ruffed Grouse, for they do not hesitate to grapple 

 with creatures much larger than themselves. At other times, 

 they mark a Robin, and follow it wherever it goes, dashing be- 

 tween branches, through trees, and over the fields, rarely being 

 disappointed in the end. If possible, they carry their prey to 

 the woods, and I am inclined to think that during a continued 

 residence in one place, they often resort to the same tree. They 

 are well known to the farmers as " Chicken " Hawks. 



d. Their cries suggest the exclamation of an alarmed Hen, 

 and consist of several successive notes, which Audubon con- 

 sidered similar to those of the Pigeon Hawk. 



