202 



NBSTS AND SaCfS 01^ 



placed on the ground, which is only a collection of twigs and hay, but from three to 

 seven inches in height and a foot or more in diameter. Sometimes the nests are of 

 large proportions, which is the result of nesting in the same spot for a number of 

 years. The eggs are frequently laid on a bed of green moss, with the material ar- ' 

 ranged in a circular form. The bird may often be seen during the spring and sum- 

 mer months sweeping slowly over meadows and bottom lands in pursuit of gophers, 

 mice, birds, grasshoppers and large insects. It can readily be reco'gnized by the en- 

 tirely pure white upper tail coverts; the male above bluish-ash, whitening below; 

 the female above dark umber-brown. Mr. S. F. Rathbun records a set of seven eggs 

 taten Jijne 14, at Dunnville, Ontario. Marsh Hawks frequently begin to incubate 

 with the first egg and the young are hatched at intervals, after the manner of the 

 cuckoos. Fresh eggs may be found from the first of May to the 15th or 20th of June, 

 according to 'locality. The eggs are greenish-white, either immaculate or faintly 

 spotted with pale brown or lilac, rather oval in shape; three to six in number, often 

 four or five, and measure from 1.80 to 1.90 in length by 1.38 to 1.45 in breadth. 



332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Accipiter velox (Wils.) 

 Whole of North America, south to Panama. 



Geog. Dist. — 



This spirited little Hawk is distributed at large throughout North America and 

 It is considered an abundant species, although in some localities it is quite rare. 

 Known as Pigeon Hawk, but it should not be confounded with Falco columbariHS, 



:I32. Sharp-shinned Hawk (After Audubon), 



The^ Sharp-shinned Hawk is swift, irregular and nervous in its flight; is one of the- 

 most (daring of the family, often successfully attacking birds of its own weight; 

 failing sometimes to do so either from over-confidence in its own abilities, or under- 

 estimation of the powers of its victim. The smaller birds and. quadrupeds,, young 

 chickens, pigeons, small reptiles and various insects constitute this bird's food. 

 The nests of this species are built in trees in dense woods, preferably pine groves; 



