BIRDS TRAINED TO HUNT 119 



own prowess. They are courageous, dauntless. 

 Falcons were the birds of kings. 



Although the short-winged hawks lack the grace 

 and perhaps the speed of falcons, they make up 

 for the loss by fierceness of attack. Their mode 

 of accomplishing this is most businesslike. No 

 time is wasted circling above the quarry. They 

 dart from their perch directly at their victim, 

 literally fling themselves upon it, or give stern 

 chase. The onslaught is less spectacular than 

 that of the falcons but is highly productive of re- 

 sult. Unlike the long-winged species, they do not 

 hesitate to plunge headlong into a thicket or 

 wooded copse in the pursuit. There are no 

 "stoops," startling recoveries, or graceful evolu- 

 tions — only an exhibition of clever aerial dodging, 

 and all the thrills attendant upon a straightaway 

 race. These are the true game-getters, the hawks 

 of the pot-hunters. 



As indicated by their name, the wings of the 

 short-winged hawks are shorter and more rounded 

 than those of the falcons. These birds belong 

 to a separate group of the great hawk family, 

 known as the AccipitrincB. Included among 

 them are the goshawks and true sparrow-hawks. 

 The former, like the peregrines, have a world- 

 wide distribution. The American goshawk is 

 closely allied to the form inhabiting Europe. 

 Sparrow-hawks also are found nearly every- 

 where, the Cooper's hawk and the sharp-shin be- 



