138 XOKTIl AMEKICAN BIRDS. 



This curious race of Fulcu communis is a good illustration of the climatic 

 peculiarity of the northwest coast region, to which 1 have often referred 

 before ; the same melanistic tendency being apparent in birds of other 

 species from the same region, as an exam])le of which I may mention the 

 Black ^lerlin {Falco ccsalon, Viu:.snck/ci/i'), which is a i)erfect miiiinture of llie 

 present bird. 



Habits. The Great-footed Hawk of North America is very closely allied 

 to the well-known Peregrine Falcon of Europe, and .so closely resembles it 

 that by many writers, even at the present day, it is regarded as identical 

 with it. Without doubt, the habits of the two races are very nearly the 

 same, though the peculiarities of the Xortli American bird are not so well 

 known as are tlio.se of the European. In its distribution it is somewhat 

 erratic, for the most part confined to the rocky sea-coast, the river-banks, 

 and the high ground of tlie northeastern parts of America. It is known to 

 breed in a few isolated rocky crags in x'arious jjarts of the country, e\'en as 

 far to the south as Pennsylvania, and it occurs probably both as migrant 

 and resident in several of the West India Islands, in Central and in South 

 America. A single specimen was taken by Dr. Woodhouse in the Creek 

 country of the Indian Territory. Two individuals are reported by Vou 

 Pelzeln as having been taken in Brazil. The Newtons met with it in St. 

 Croix. Mr. Gosse found it in Jamaica, and Dr. Gundlach gives it as a 

 bird of Cuba. Jardine states it to be a bird of Bermuda, and also that it 

 has been taken in the Straits of Magellan. A single specimen was taken 

 at Dueiias, Guatemala, in Feljruarv, by Mr. Salvin. 



On the Pacific coast this Falcon has lieen traced as far south as the 

 limit of the land. Dr. Cooper met with only two pair.s, in ]\Iarcli, 1S54, 

 frequenting a high wooded cliff at Shoal-water Bay. Dr. Suckley procured 

 a single specimen from Steilacoom. Dr. Cooper states that the habits of 

 these corresponded with those described for the F. anaivm and F. 2}crc<irimis, 

 and that, like these Falcons, it is a terror to all land animals weaker than 

 itself It is said to breed on the rocky cliff's of the Pacific. 



An individual of this bird was taken by Colonel Gi'ayson at the Tres 

 Marias Islands. When shot, it was endeavoring to capture a Sparrow- 

 hawk, indicating its indiiference as to the game it pursues. He adds that 

 this bird attacks with vigor everything it sees, from the size of a JNIallard 

 Diu:k down, and is the terror of all small birds. Its range must be very 

 great, as it ol'ten ventures far out to sea. On his passage from Mazatlan 

 to San Francisco, in 1858, on the bark Carlota, one of these Falcons came 

 on board more than a hundred miles off the coast of Lower California, 

 and took up its cpiarters on the main-top yard, wiicre it remained two 

 days, during which time it captured several Dusky Petrels. It ^\■ould dart 

 headlong upon these unsuspecting birds, seldom mi.ssing its aim. It would 

 then return to its resting-place and partly di>vour its prize. At other times 

 it dropped its victims into the sea in wanton sport. Finally, as if tired of 



