OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 2:3 :> 



The food of this species consists principally of birds, 

 although small quadrupeds, li/ards. batrachians, and insects, 

 arc- eagerly devoured wherever encountered. Prey as 

 large as the common Ruffed Grouse and the ordinary 

 barnvard fowl, are occasionally captured ; but, owing to their 

 superior si/e and weight, are eaten upon the ground. 

 Whilst thus occupied, the birds are frequently so intent 

 upon their task, that a near approach is possible. But, 

 ordinarily, this species is by far the most cautious of all the 

 Falcon i die. The following animals constitute an important 

 part of its rather uniform bill of fare : Ortyx virgin ianns* 

 Tiirdus migratorius. T. mustcliHits, Quiscalus versicolor, 

 Agclains pJiceniceus. Mimus carolinensis^ HarporJiyiicJnit 

 ritfns, PasscrcUa iliaca, Zonotrichia albicollis* Philoheht 

 minor. GaUinago Wilsonii* Bonasa iimbellus. Gallus do- 

 niesticus* among birds ; Arvicold Gapperi, Hesperomys leu- 

 copns. Scinru-'s hudsonius, Tamias striatus* among quad- 

 rupeds ; and, occasionally, Raua sylvatica, R. halecina, 

 Hyla 'cersicolor, and Pletkod&n erythronotus* among 

 l)atrachians ; and Cyrtopbyttus concavus* Phylloptera 

 oblongifolia, GryUotalpa boreal is ^ CEdipoda' Carolina^ 

 Caloptcims femur-rubrum, Priouus laticollis, Osmoderma 

 scabra. Lacknosterna qnercuia. and PapiUouidic and 

 Sphiiigidie* among lepidoptera. 



These birds begin to mate during the latter part of April, 

 often not till the i5th of May. Previous to this period, the 

 sexes are always separated, and seemingly manifest but little 

 regard for each other. But, at the above season, when a 

 plentiful supply of food is to be obtained, and, doubtless, ani- 

 mated bv the exhilarating breath of spring, the males become 

 excessively amorous, and are now as eager for female society, 

 as they were before for the selfish gratification of appetite. 

 Their time is now divided between feeding and seeking their 

 partners. Perched upon an exposed tree-branch, on the 

 borders of an open wood, or in the midst of a large field, 

 they give expression to a rather shrill call-note, which can 



