18 THE BIRDS OF SPRINGFIELD AND VICINITY. 



316. i^enaidura macroura (I/inn.). Mourning 

 Dove. A common summer, and a very rare winter, resident. 



325. Cathartes aura (I/inn.). Turkey Vulture. 

 Accidental visitor. Dr. Wood notes the presence of one in 

 East Windsor, which is the only record. (See Merriam's Birds 

 of Connecticut, page 92.) 



331. Circus hudsonius (I/inn.), Marsh Hawk. A 

 common spring and autumn vi.sitor, and a rare summer resi- 

 dent. 



332. Accipiter velox ( Wils. ). Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk. A common spring and autumn visitor, occasionally 

 breeds here, and is often seen in winter. This is the boldest 

 of our birds of prey. Some years ago while decoying ducks, I 

 saw one of these little hawks like a flash fasten itself to the 

 back of a wood duck that was fluttering over the decoys ; 

 what would have been the result of this encounter I cannot 

 say, as both were shot while in this position. Once, while 

 watching a flock of j uncos in a large oak tree, I saw one 

 of these hawks suddenly make a dart for them, and, selecting 

 its victim, chase the bird back and forth and round about 

 the branches of the tree until the poor j unco fell to the ground 

 in a collapse from fright, as it had not been touched by the 

 hawk. 



333. Accipiter cooperii (Bonap.). Cooper's Hawk. 

 Tolerably common summer resident, but much more numerous 

 during migration ; rare in winter. This is the hawk that is so 

 destructive to poultry in Western Massachusetts, and for 

 its sins many other useful kinds are made to suffer. 



334. Accipiter atricapillus (Wils.). American 

 Goshawk. Irregular winter visitor from the north, not 

 generally common. As the flesh of the ruffed grouse is its 

 favorite food, a large visitation of this hawk is not desirable. 



