288 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



and the Hawk quickly gave up pursuit. In Florida I have 

 seen the swift Pigeon Hawk chase large flocks of Sandpipers 

 back and forth for a long time, but they were too swift for him. 

 His persistent efforts stirred up about all the "Peeps" over a 

 large expanse of flats, and as they swirled and sped away in 

 writhing, twisting evolutions, back and forth in panic, it was 

 evident that they realized the danger that they were exerting 

 all their powers to avoid. The apparent ease with which they 

 evaded their swift enemy indicates great speed and dexterity 

 of flight. One who has seen the Duck Hawk overtake and 

 strike down Ducks going at full speed cannot help admiring 

 the speed and skill displayed by these little birds in avoiding 

 the attacks of an enemy which seems to possess as much 

 speed and prowess, in proportion to its size, as the Duck Hawk. 

 The following interesting account of the notes of this bird 

 is taken from Dr. Townsend's Birds of Essex County: "Their 

 call note is very much like that of the Least Sandpiper but is 

 shriller and less musical. A harsh rasping note and a peeping 

 note are sometimes heard. A low, rolling, gossipy note is 

 often emitted when they approach other birds. This latter 

 note often is imitated with success by gunners. In the spring, 

 however, the bird is delightfully musical on occasions, and 

 his flight song may be heard on the beach and among the 

 bogs of the dunes. Rising on quivering wings to about thirty 

 feet from the ground, the bird advances with rapid wing beats, 

 curving the pinions strongly downward, pouring forth a suc- 

 cession of musical notes, — a continuous quavering trill, — 

 and ending with a few very sweet notes that recall those of 

 the Goldfinch. He then descends to the ground where one 

 may be lucky enough, if near at hand, to hear a low musical 

 duck from the excited bird. This is, I suppose, the full love 

 flight-song, and is not often heard in its entirety, but the first 

 quavering trill is not uncommon, a single bird, or a member of 

 a flock singing thus as he flies over. I have seen birds chasing 

 one another on the beach with raised wings, emitting a few 

 quavering notes, and have been reminded of a Long-billed 

 Marsh Wren. I have also heard them emit at this time a 

 sharp grasshopper-like sound." 



