OF' EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 200 



the neighborhood of small streams and ponds, where, in the 

 spring, it may be sometimes observed in sequestered retreats, 

 slowly sailing over their surface, or perched upon the sum- 

 mit of a rock slightly elevated above the water, on the 

 lookout for fish, which it seizes with a rapid and dexterous 

 movement of the foot, that is truly surprising, scarcely miss- 

 ing its mark. In the pursuit of birds which constitute no 

 mean portion of its diet, its movements are somewhat hawk- 

 like. As many of our larger game-birds, such as ducks, 

 grouse, and pigeons, are eagerly hunted, it certainly pos- 

 sesses remarkable rapidity of flight. 



Its food consists of small quadrupeds, birds, both large 

 and small including poultry, lizards, snakes, fishes, and 

 large insects. The following list embraces a small portion 

 ot its bill of fare : Sciurns cinereus, S. hudsonius^ 

 Pteromys volucella, Tamias striatus, Afus rattus, Arvic- 

 ola Gapperi, Fiber zibet hi cus, Lepus Americamis, and 

 Z. sylvaticus, among quadrupeds; ^hiiscalus versicolor, 

 Tctrao canadensis, Bonasa umbellus, Gallus domcsticus, 

 varieties of the domestic Columba, and other aves ; Pletho- 

 don erythronotus, Pseudotriton ruber, among batrachians ; 

 Eutccnia sirtalis, Storeria Dekayi, and other serpents ; 

 Pcrca flavescens, Plargyrits Amcricanus, Hypsolepis 

 cornuttts, Pimelodtis atrarius, Salmo fontinatts, etc., be- 

 sides coleopterous and lepidopterous insects. 



Its presence has been observed as late as the zSth of March, 

 and in backward seasons, until the first week of April. It 

 is doubtful whether it breeds in the limits of the United 

 States, although it has been observed under circumstances 

 which are rather suspicious. Mr. Boardman observed a 

 pair in the spring of 1862, in the vicinity of Calais, as late 

 as the last of May, which he supposed were breeding in 

 that locality. Mr Allen has recorded its capture in Massa- 

 chusetts as late as May 2Oth. Within the Arctic Circle, and 

 in the temperate regions adjacent thereto, it is chiefly found 

 breeding. Mr. Donald Gunn says the nests are placed in 

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