182 Deane, Unusual Abundance of the Goshawk. \jimil 



UNUSUAL ABUNDANCE OF THE AMERICAN GOS- 

 HAWK (ACCIPITER ATRICAPILLUS). 



BY RUTHVEN DEANE. 



Replacing the notable migration of the Snowy Owl in the 

 winter of 1905-06, we have this season been visited by an unusual 

 influx of these bold robbers of our game and looters of the poultry 

 yard. I believe there has not been such a flight since the fall and 

 winter of 1896-97; when at that time they were particularly abun- 

 dant in portions of New England, as they have been the present 

 season. 



It is reasonable to suppose, as in the case of the owls, that a 

 lack of their favorite food forced them south of their usual range. 

 All specimens examined are reported in good condition, though 

 in some cases the stomachs have been entirely empty. I have 

 obtained most of my information from taxidermists, and to them 

 as well as to others I express my hearty thanks for their assistance 

 and for records of some two hundred and seventy-five specimens. 



The S. L. Crosby Co., taxidermists, Bangor, Me., report under 

 date of Feb. 1, 1907, having received from twenty-five to thirty 

 specimens. The first ones were sent in early in the season, the 

 last two on Feb. 1, 1907. This number exceeded any previous 

 year, and nearly all specimens were in adult plumage. 



Mr. Wm. Cooper, taxidermist, Milo, Me., writes under date of 

 Feb. 27, 1907, that he had received seven specimen ; of the Gos- 

 hawk this winter prior to Dec. 25, 906, but they ceased coining 

 in after the weather became severe. 



Mr. Walter D. Hinds, taxidermist, Portland, Me., writing under 

 date of Feb. 8, 1907, informs me that twenty-five specimens of 

 the Goshawk had been sent to him since Oct. 26, 1906, they 

 having been received from Cape Elizabeth and Damariscotta, 

 Me., Gorham, N. H., and other points. All were adult birds. 



Capt. Herbert L. Spinney, Keeper of Seguin Light Station, Me., 

 writing under date of Feb. 15, 1907, states that these hawks have 

 been quite abundant in Sagadahoc County, Me., during the past 

 fall and early winter, and while he had seen only two on Seguin 



