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 towards 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 it 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 briary 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 Fjnch, 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 assailant 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 thegraso of the little tvrant, as whenever it seizes one 
