TWO HAWKS TO BE DESTROYED 
231 
early and violent death. By a strange coinci- 
dence, it bears a strong resemblance to the sharp- 
shinned hawk, both in form and color, but it is a 
much larger bird. Leaving size out of consider- 
ation, it is difficult to describe in words the 
slight differences that exist between the two. 
Being a bird of strong and rapid flight, much 
strength and activity, and great boldness, it is well 
equipped for raiding poultry-yards, and carrying 
off almost anything except geese and turkeys. 
Of 133 stomachs examined by Dr. Fisher, 34 
contained poultry or game-birds; 52, other birds; 
11, mammals; 1, a frog; 3, lizards; 2, insects, 
and 39 were empty. The game-birds found were 
1 ruffed grouse, 8 quails and 5 pigeons. Alto- 
gether, 21 species of useful birds had been eaten, 
but only 4 mice, 1 rat and 1 grasshopper. 
No record could be much blacker than this, 
and Cooper’s Hawk is a pest whose career de- 
serves to be ended by three drachms of powder 
and an ounce and a half of No. 6 shot, whenever 
opportunity offers. If gunners could only dis- 
criminate, the killing off of this species would 
make great sport for them; but the trouble is, 
many innocent birds would be killed by mistake. 
This bird inhabits the whole United States, 
but stops at the Canadian boundary, and goes 
south to southern Mexico. 
The American Goshawk 1 is to Canada 
and Alaska what Cooper’s hawk is to the United 
States, — a wholesale destroyer of game-birds, 
serving no useful purpose whatever. To the 
unprotected Hocks of .ptarmigan it is a genuine 
scourge, and it merits destruction. Fortunately 
this hawk visits the United States only in winter, 
and even then is by no means numerous. Those 
who have had opportunities to observe it in 
action consider it the boldest and most audacious 
hawk in America. It has been known to seize 
a freshly killed chicken from the side of the farmer 
who had slain it for dinner, and also to follow a 
hen into a house, and seize it in the presence of 
its owner. (Fisher.) 
The length of the Goshawk is from 21 to 25 
inches. The top of its head is black, and its up- 
per surface is bluish-slate color. Its whole under 
surface is white, with many gray cross-bars, in 
addition to which it is lined up and down with 
short, black lines, rather far apart. The lower 
tail surface is crossed by four gray bands. 
1 Ac-cip'i-ter at-ri-cap'il-lus. 
The Marsh-Hawk 2 is essentially a prairie- 
hawk; and in the open and fertile uplands of 
the Mississippi valley, it is one of the most con- 
spicuous species. It loves farming regions 
wherein members of the Mouse Family are plenti- 
ful and cheap. In hunting it flies low, in a very 
business-like way, just above the grain or tall 
grass, and its intentions are so apparent that 
the American farmer gave it credit for its good 
work, years before the true value of the once- 
despised “Hen-Hawk” became known. 
This hawk is not beautiful, either in form, 
color or movement. To me it always seems to 
have too much sail area for the size of its hull. 
Its adult color is drab, or bluish-gray, but the 
cooper’s hawk. 
females and immature males are rusty brown, 
much like the red-shouldered hawk. However, 
this hawk can always be distinguished by the 
large white patch on the rump, just above the 
tail. 
One of the first facts about the nesting of hawks 
that comes to a Western farmer boy by personal 
2 Cir'cus hud-son’ i-us . Average length, about 22 
inches. 
