578 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



" Preferring the sea-coast to inland localities, this bird, better 

 known as ' duck hawk,' is a not unfrequent species. Has been 

 found breeding in Cape May county, the young leaving the nest 

 as early as May 20th." 



P. columbarius, L. Pigeon Hawk. American Merlin. 



Inner webs of quills distinctly barred with whitish ; tail bands 

 distinct ; ashy blue or blackish above, variegated below ; female 

 and young whitish or buffy below. Length, 13 inches; tail, 5 

 inches. 



" Not abundant. Is found generally throughout the State, 

 and breeds annually within its limits. This hawk is much more 

 destructive to poultry, especially during the spring, than many 

 of the larger species." 



F. eparverius, L. American Sparrow Hawk. Rusty-crowned Falcon. 



Back tawny ; wings bluish and black ; seven black blotches 



about head ; tail chestnut, with a broad black band in male and 



a narrow terminal one of white ; below white or tawny ; female 



more streaky. Length, 11 inches; tail, 5 inches. 



" Very abundant, remaining throughout the year. Building 

 a rude nest in the hollow of a tree, two broods are raised during 

 the spring and summer. Though small birds are frequently 

 attacked, mice constitute the bulk of its food." 



PANDION, Savig. 

 P. haliaetus, var. carolinensis, Gmel. American Osprey. Fish Hawk. 



Plain grayish brown above ; tail more grayish, tipped with 

 white and barred with dusky ; head, neck and lower parts pure 

 white, or nearly so, in male ; always spotted or blotched with 

 brown in female ; feet very large. Length, 24 inches ; tail, 10 

 inches. 



" The ' fish hawk ' is probably more abundant along the 

 Delaware river than elsewhere throughout the State, except on 

 'the shore.' It appears along the river in March or late in 

 February, following the herring (Clupea harengus), which then 

 throng the river. They rebuild the nest of the former season, 

 and raise but the one brood generally. The nest is usually at 

 some distance from the parent birds' favorite haunt. During 

 August and through the autumn the fish hawk seeks its food in 



