352 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



southward as Florida, but at that season are rare in Massachu- 

 setts, much more so than in spring or fall. They vary in num- 

 bers ffom year to year, but occasionally breed here, and this I 

 can from personal experience positively assert. They are 

 probably more abundant as summer-residents to the northward, 

 as I have observed them to be most numerous near Boston in 

 fall, though never common. Occasionally they may be seen 

 traveling, even in pairs, moving leisurely along at some height 

 in the air. They do not sail so much as most of our hawks, 

 but often perch on a tree to watch for their prey, which they 

 pursue with indescribable speed and skill, and with a rapid beat- 

 ing of the wings. They feed principally upon birds (even at- 

 tacking those of their own size), pursuing them through thick 

 and thin, and following every turn with surprising agility, un- 

 til, overtaking their victim, they thrust their talons into its 

 vitals, causing instant death. They generally begin their re- 

 past upon the spot, and do not carry off their prey. They 

 frequent the woods rather less than the Sharp-shinned Hawks, 

 but more often occur in pastures with scattered trees, or about 

 open lands. Their movements and haunts seem more or less 

 dependent upon the progress of the smaller birds, whose mi- 

 grations they often follow. They are somewhat shy of man, 

 but are said to be so bold as to carry off chickens from the 

 farm-yard. In summer, I have seen them among pines, where 

 I have known them to build their nest. 



On consulting other authors, I find the following facts, which 

 I have either not mentioned or never observed. Wilson says 

 of this species: "Sometimes when shot at, and not hurt, he 

 will fly in circles over the sportsman's head, shrieking out with 

 great violence, as if highly irritated. He frequently flies low, 

 skimming a little above the field." 



Samuels says : " The Pigeon Hawk, in alighting on a branch 

 or other object, alwa} r s descends below the level of it, and rises 

 up ; and usually turns abruptly about, and faces the direction 

 from which it came, as soon as it has struck its perch. This 

 habit is observable in many of the other hawks. 



u While perching, the tail is often flirted up and down, and 



