448 THE PIGEON HA WK. 



and Labrador, but was told that it bred in the former prov- 

 ince. Though found in the middle districts, even to South- 

 ern New England, in winter, this species generally finds its 

 home at that time in the sunnier climes of the Southern 

 States, and even there it is said to almost disappear, in any 

 locality, on the occurrence of a sharp frost. It also 

 breeds quite commonly in most, if not in all, parts of the 

 south. 



THE PIGEON HAWK. 



On the 28th of August, as my friend and I are seating 

 ourselves in the boat for a trip to Chippewa, Ontario, I have 

 no sooner removed the caps from my gun, for the sake of 

 safety, than a pair of beautiful Pigeon Hawks (Falco colum- 

 barius) make their appearance. First the one and then the 

 other hovers over us, just near enough for a good shot, but 

 before I can get ready they are gone. How provoking ! 

 Moral be always ready for a shot. Columbarius is, for the 

 most part, simply a rather common migrant in this locality, 

 though I am inclined to think a few breed here, as they are 

 supposed to do in Eastern Massachusetts. With notched 

 and toothed mandible, long pointed wings, having the outer 

 pinions narrowed on the inner vanes, tarsus more or less 

 feathered above, after the manner of the genus Falco, this 

 bird is 11-12 inches long; extent, 24.00; wing, 8.25; tail, 

 5.50; bill, .75; the male, the smaller, after the manner of the 

 birds of prey, is dark bluish-slate above, every feather hav- 

 ing a shaft-line of black; primaries black, tipped with 

 whitish; tail, light bluish-ash, nearly white on the inner 

 webs, tipped with whitish, with a deep subterminal band, and 

 several other narrower bands of black; forehead and throat 

 white; under parts and wing-linings, pale buff, streaked with 

 brown. Female similar, but tinted with brown above, and 

 having larger and darker markings below. 



