CONDEMNED TO DESTRUCTION 59 



December, and throughoul n wide range of localities, nol one 

 stomach contained any remains of a domestic bird. In the 

 early spring, before grasshoppers come, Sparrow Hawks often 

 follow a plough very closely, to capture the mice that are 

 ploughed up. Sometimes this bird is half-domestic in its 

 habits, and nests in buildings erected by man. Wherever it 

 is found, it should be a welcome visitor. 



The Pigeon Hawk 1 is a slightly larger bird than the pre- 

 ceding, very destructive to song by*ds, of little use to man 

 and deserves to be shot wherever found. It kills sparrows, 

 thrushes, goldfinches, vireos, bobolinks, swifts and a host of 

 other species. Out of 56 specimens examined by Dr. Fisher, 

 41 contained small song birds and 2 poultry; 2 only had mice 

 and 16 insects. This is a bird of plain colors, being bluish 

 gray or brownish above, and lighter below. 



Apparently the Duck Hawk,- 1 a geographic race of the 

 Peregrine Falcon, never devours a mouse or an insect 

 save by mistake. Out of 20 specimens, 7 contained game 

 birds or poultry, 9 had eaten song birds, only c 2 contained 

 insects, and 1 a mouse. You may know this bird by the great 

 size and strength of his "pickers and stealers." It can besi 

 be studied with a rope, a basket and a choke-bore shotgun 

 loaded with Xo. (> shot. 



First, shoot both male and female birds, then collect the 

 nest, and the eggs or young, whichever may be present. In 

 doing this, however, be 1 careful not to shool the Red-Tailed or 

 Red-Shouldered Hawk — both good friends of ours, who are en- 



1 Fal'co cot-um-ba'ri-us. Length <>f male about 1<> inches; female, - t<> :; 

 inches more. 



- Fal'co per-e-gri'nus an-a'tum. Length <»f male. 1? inches; female, 19 inches. 



