BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 213 



153 [356] Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonap.). 

 Duck Hawk. 



Not uncommon transient visitor ; May 24 ; September 19 to October 9. 



Along the immediate shore, this Hawk is not uncommon during the migra 

 tions. In the autumn, he boldly darts down to pick up the dead or wounded 

 shore birds, even if the gunner be near at hand and has just fired his gun. 

 Three specimens in my collection were obtained from gunners who had shot the 

 would-be robbers. 



I have several times seen them chase shore birds, who, by twisting and 

 turning, tried to escape the pursuers. The evident attempt of the Duck Hawk 

 is to rise above his quarry so as to strike at it with his talons, and the frightened 

 Sandpiper in the attempt to escape, rises higher and higher. The evolutions of 

 the two birds are so quick that they are difficult to follow with the eye. In the 

 stomach of one Duck Hawk I found the remains of a Phoebe, a Sparrow, and 

 feathers of several other birds. Another had a large shore bird in his stomach. 



154 [357] Falco columbarius Linn. 

 Pigeon Hawk. 



Common transient visitor; March 12 to May ; September 7 to October 6. 



Three Hawks of this species in my collection, all taken in Essex County in 

 the autumn, showed the following stomach contents : in one a Song Sparrow ; 

 in a second, a Semipalmated Sandpiper and a grasshopper ; and in a third, 

 grasshoppers alone. 



155 [360] Falco sparverius Linn. 



American Sparrow Hawk. 



Common summer resident, locally ; March 20 to November 8. 



Eggs: April 27. 



This beautiful little Hawk is as good as it looks. Field mice and grass- 

 hoppers are its fare, but the gunner always feels that he has done a righteous 



