PIGEON-HAWK. 17 



In the United States this bird is found to prey 

 principally upon ducks, which it appears to strike 

 with its feet, but allows to drop to the ground be- 

 fore it secures them. If, as is probable, its pre- 

 dilection extends to other aquatic birds, its pre- 

 sence at the Pedro Kays, where such prey abounds, 

 on which it may riot undisturbed, is not sur- 

 prising. But, as the period of its occurrence is 

 that of the migration of many species of ducks 

 from the Spanish main to the United States, our 

 bird may have been a follower, with predatory in- 

 tent, of some of the many bands of migrant ducks 

 which were passing the rocks about that time. 



The Prince of Canino has separated this species 

 from the Peregrine Falcon of Europe, with which 

 it was supposed to be identical. The European 

 bird, which was renowned as the Tiercel and the 

 Faucon of falconry, is inferior in its dimensions to 

 our species. 



PIGEON-HAWK.* 



Falco columharius. 



Falco columharius, Linn. — WiLS. 

 Falco temerarius, AuD. pi. 75. 



Though of small size, this bird is not lacking in 

 spirit and courage, often striking at prey nearly as 



* Length 12 inches, expanse 25, tail 4^, flexure 7^, rictus ■^, tar- 

 sus 1^, middle toe 1, claw %, closed wings 1^ inch short of the tip of 



the tail. 



