BIEDS OF NORTHERN CANADA 351 



The Dominion Museum contains six skins and two sets 

 of eggs (one of six and one of four) taken at Edmonton, 

 Alberta, in May, 1894, and in June, 1897, by Mr. W. 

 Spreadborough. 



332. Shabp-shinned Hawk — Accipiter velox (Wilson). 



Although I do not remember having ever seen this par- 

 ticular hawk, yet it is a northern breeder and has been 

 taken up there. I give it a place among these notes, especially 

 in view of the following from the pen of the late Major 

 Bendire : " This hawk breeds at least as far as latitude 

 62° north, Mr. R. Kennicott taking its nest and eggs near 

 Fort Resolution, Great Slave Lake, on June 16th, 1860, and 

 Mr. James Lockhart, of the Hudson's Bay Company, found 

 it breeding in the same locality in June, 1863. The eggs 

 taken by these gentlemen are in the U. S. Xational Museum 

 at Washington. Mr. B. R. Ross also noticed it at Fort 

 Simpson, on the Mackenzie River, in about latitude 63°!N^. 

 The hawk in question, althoi^h small in size, is full of dash 

 and courage, frequently attacking birds as large as itself 

 and killing them with ease. Like its larger relatives — the 

 vicious Cooper's hawk and goshawk — it has very destructive 

 instincts. It lives mostly on small birds, and some of a 

 larger size, such as pigeons, grackles, doves, and robins. 

 Small rodents appear to furnish but a very limited portion 

 of its food, and insects are likewise rarely eaten. No mat- 

 ter which way the selected victim may turn and double, his 

 untiring pursuer is equally prompt, and only rarely will it 

 miss capturing its quarry. Once struck, death fortunately 

 follows quickly, as it fairly transfixes its victim's vitals with 

 its long and sharp talons." 



According to Professor Macoun this is one of the com- 

 monest hawks in the greater part of the Dominion of Canada, 

 and quite a number of nests thereof have been secured. The 

 Mtiseum at Ottawa contains seven skins taken in Ottawa 

 23 



