5Si: 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
have been known to take young chickens (Cooper). Birds, reptiles, insects and 
poultry (De Kay). Principally birds (Samuels). Frequently destructive to doves 
and young poultry (Nuttall). Small snakes and insects (Brewer). Principally 
snakes and insects (Coues). Swamp Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow (Audubon). 
167. Accipiter Cooperi, Bp. COOPER’S HAWK; CHICKEN HAWK. 
Group HI. Class b. 
This Hawk is much larger, more audacious, feeds less upon insects, and is 
more destructive to poultry than its congener. Its flight is described as silent, 
gliding and swift, exceeding that of the Wild Pigeon. It is said to secure its 
prey by giving open chase, and to dive down upon its quarry with almost incred¬ 
ible velocity. With such powers and tendencies as these, and living constantly 
among our most useful birds, which it follows south to their winter homes, this 
Hawk is evidently a most dangerous species. 
Food: Often comes to the very door for poultry (Wilson). Chiefly the smaller 
birds (De Kay). Hares, squirrels, poultry, Grouse, Ducks, small birds, snakes 
and other reptiles, grasshoppers and crickets (Samuels). The Ruffed Grouse 
(Brewer). Many Quails and young Grouse, which, together with poultry, con¬ 
stitute their principal fare (Dr. Hoy). It attacks and destroys hares. Grouse, 
Teal, and even the young of larger ducks, beside capturing the usual variety of 
smaller birds and quadrupeds, and it occasionally seizes upon insects (Coues). 
168. Astur ATRiCAPiLLUS (WiLS.), Bp. AMERICAN goshawk. Group III. 
Class b. 
This large, powerful species is a. somewhat uncommon winter resident. De¬ 
cember 5, 1877, one of these birds was taken while it was making an attack upon 
the inmates of a dove-cot. The day before the same Hawk succeeded in captur¬ 
ing, by direct chase, a dove, which it bore off for its morning repast. Its flight 
is extremely rapid and protracted; and Audubon has seen it dash into a flock of 
Purple Grackles and before they could disperse secure four or five victims. So 
skillful is it said to be in capturing Snipe on the wing, that these birds court se¬ 
curity by skulking upon the ground rather than taking flight, when they observe 
the approach of their enemy. 
Food: In February, 1881, I obtained a specimen which had eaten a rabbit. 
Doves and poultry. Ducks, Pigeons, hares, etc. (De Kay). Canada and Ruffed 
Grouse, PurjDle Grackles, Pigeons, Mallards and other wild Ducks, Snipe, squirrels, 
and hares (Auduhon). Grouse (Mr. Street). Ducks, Pigeons and poultry (Mr. 
Downes). It feeds largely upon Wiiite Ptarmagan (Mr. Dali). Poultry (Dr. 
Hoy). 
169. Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. PEREGRINE FALCON; DUCK HAWK. 
Group III. Class a. 
This species rarely occui’s except as a migrant, and as such it is not very com¬ 
mon. It is a powei'ful bird, and its gigantic talons are commensurate with its 
audacity and courage. It can out-fly the Wild Pigeon, and the short turnings of 
the Swallow do not secure it against fatal attacks from this bird. 
Food: Ducks, Geese, Plovers, and other small birds (Wilson). Swallows, 
Ducks, and other water-fowl (Cooper). It attacks the Sparrow Hawk and any¬ 
thing from the size of a Mallard down to small birds. It captures the Dusky 
Petrel (Col. Grayson). Wild Pigeon, water-fowl, and small birds (Richardson). 
The Mallard and other Ducks, Snipe, Blackbirds, wild and domestic Pigeons, 
and occasionally dead fish (Audubon). Blue-winged Teal (Dr. Hoy). 
