211 



in this iState, and is uflener met with in the laouu 

 lainons and wooded districts than elsewhere. 



FEEDS PRINCIPALLY ON BIRDS. 



Field observations and post-mortem examinations 

 made by numerous naturalists show very conclusively 

 that although the Pijzeon HawU will sometimes de- 

 stroy poultry, tame pigeons, and even game birds as 

 large as the Piaiinigan, it preys mainly on various 

 kinds of small wild birds. It sometimes catches in- 

 sects, and small quadrupeds. 



The following is taken from my note book in rela- 

 tion to a pair of these hawks: Two Pigeon Hawks dur 

 ing the late fall lurked about the southern suburbs of 

 the borough of West Chester, preying at regular inter- 

 vals on the pigeons of a blacksmith. In one week the 

 hawks killed or drove away fifty of these birds. The 

 hawks would (mter the boxes and take from them the 

 pigeons. 



DEVOURS MANY BENEFICIAL BIRDS. 



An examination of Dr. Fisher's food-table of this 

 species shows very conclusively that these birds prey 

 on a great varfety of birds, particularly those of the 

 sparrow family. In the stomachs of fifty-one Pigeon 

 hawks mentioned by Dr. Fisher, forty-one eo-ntained 

 small birds and of these the following speeies were 

 identified: 



Song Sparrow, Swift, 



English Sparrows. Flicker, 



Indigo Bird, Warblers, 



Field Sparrow, Bobolink, 



Swamp Sparrows. Tree Swallow, 



Chipping Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireos, 



Goldfinchs, Brown Creeper, 



Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo. 



