FALCO COLUMBARIUS I PIGEON HAWK. 



the particular localities to which it happens to resort 

 to breed. Mr. .Allen cites it for Massachusetts as a 

 " rare resident ; more common in winter than in sum- 

 mer, and along the coast than in the interior." Its 

 breeding in Connecticut, where, however, it is not a 

 common bird, has already been noted. Mr. N. C. 

 Brown has lately instanced the only case of its occur- 

 rence near Portland, which has come to his knowledge. 



PIGEON FALCON : PIGEON HAWK. 

 FALCO COLUMBARIUS L. 



Chars. Tarsus scarcely feathered above, with the plates in front 

 enlarged, appearing like a double row of alternating scutella (and 

 often with a few true scutella at base) ; I stand 2d quills emargi- 

 nate on inner web. Adult male above ashy-blue, sometimes al- 

 most blackish, sometimes much paler ; below pale fulvous, or 

 ochraceous, whitish on the throat, the breast and sides with large 

 oblong dark brown spots with black shaft lines ; the tibiae reddish, 

 streaked with brown ; inner webs of primaries with about eight 

 transverse white or whitish spots ; tail tipped with white, and 

 with the outer feather whitening ; with a broad subterminal 

 black zone and 3-4 black bands alternating with whitish ; cere 

 greenish-yellow, feet yellow. Female with the upper parts ashy- 

 brown ; the tail with 4-5 indistinct whitish bands. Length, about 

 13.00; wing, 8.00; tail, 5.00; male smaller. Observe that Acci- 

 piterfuscus is also called " pigeon hawk." 



According to Dr. Brewer, this spirited little falcon is 

 a migratory visitant in Southern, and a summer resident 

 in Northern New England. Dr. Coues says : " Gener- 

 ally distributed, not abundant ; resident ; breeds at least 

 as far south as Massachusetts. Individuals are of general 

 occurrence throughout New England." Mr. J. N. Clark 



