AVES-HAWK. 



457 



THE PIGEON HAWKi 



Possesses great spirit and rapidity of flight. He is generally migratory in 

 the middle and northern states, arriving in Pennsylvania early in spring, 

 and extending his migrations as far north as Hudson's Bay. After building, 

 and rearing his young, he returns to the south early in November. Small 

 birds and mice are his principal food. When the reed birds, grakles, and 

 red-winged black birds congregate in large flights, he is often observed fol- 

 lowing in their rear, picking up the weak, the wounded, or the stragglers; 

 and frequently making a sudden and fatal sweep into the very midst of their 

 multitudes. The flocks of robins and pigeons are honored with the same 

 attentions from this marauder, whose daily excursions are entirely regulated 

 by the movements of the great body, on whose unfortunate members he 

 fattens. 



Sometimes, when shot at and not hurt, he will fly in circles over the 

 sportsman's head, shrieking out with great violence, as if highly irritated. 

 He frequently flies low, skimming a little above the field. 



THE SWALLOW-TAILED HAWP 



Is a very elegant species, which inhabits the southern districts of the United 

 States in summer. It is very abundant in South Carolina and Georgia, and 

 still more so in West Florida, and the extensive prairies of Ohio and Indiana 



1 F, columbarins, Li>*. 



58 



5 F. furcatus, Lin. 



39 



