SHARP-SHINNED OR SLATE-COLOURED HAWK. 101 



ward. I have a specimen procured by Mr. Townsend in the neighbourhood 

 of the Columbia River; and, when on my way tow r ards Labrador, I met with 

 it plentifully as far as the southern shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 beyond which, however, none were observed by me or any of my party. 



I never saw this daring little marauder on wing without saying or think- 

 ing "There goes the miniature of the Goshawk!" Indeed, reader, the 

 shortness of the wings of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, its long tail, although 

 almost perfectly even, instead of being rounded as in the Goshawk, added to 

 its irregular, swift, vigorous, varied, and yet often undecided manner of 

 flight, greatly protracted however on occasion, have generally impressed 

 upon me the idea alluded to. While in search of prey, the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk passes over the country, now at a moderate height, now close over 

 the land, in so swift a manner that, although your eye has marked it, you 

 feel surprised that the very next moment it has dashed off and is far away. 

 In fact it is usually seen when least expected, and almost always but for a 

 few moments, unless when it has procured some prey, and is engaged in 

 feeding upon it. The kind of vacillation or wavering with which it moves 

 through the air appears perfectly adapted to its wants, for -iit undoubtedly 

 enables this little warrior to watch and to see at a single quick glance of its 

 keen eyes every object, whether to the right or to the left, as it pursues its 

 course. It advances by sudden dashes, as if impetuosity of movement was 

 essential to its nature, and pounces upon or strikes such objects as best suit 

 its appetite; but so very suddenly that it appears quite hopeless for any of 

 them to try to escape. Many have been the times, reader, when watching 

 this vigilant, active, and industrious bird, I have seen it plunge headlong 

 among the briar}' patches of one of our old fields, in defiance of all thorny 

 obstacles, and, passing through, emerge on the other side, bearing off with 

 exultation in its sharp claws a Sparrow or Finch, which it had surprised 

 when at rest. At other times I have seen two or three of these Hawks, 

 acting in concert, fly at a Golden-winged Woodpecker while alighted against 

 the bark of a tree, where it thought itself secure, but was suddenly clutched 

 by one of the Hawks throwing as it were its long legs forward with the 

 quickness of thought, protruding its sharp talons, and thrusting them into the 

 back of the devoted bird, while it was endeavouring to elude the harassing 

 attacks of another, by hopping and twisting round the tree. Then down to 

 the ground assailants and assailed would fall, the Woodpecker still offering- 

 great resistance, until a second Hawk would also seize upon it, and with 

 claws deeply thrust into its vitals, put an end to its life; when both the 

 marauders would at once commence their repast. 



On several such occasions, I have felt much pleasure in rescuing different 

 species of birds from the grasp of the little tyrant, as whenever it seizes one 



