56 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



scarcely to move, as he shot like an arrow through the 

 flock. Other instances of the swiftness of flight by Fal- 

 cons might be given but these seem to show that no bird 

 flies as fast as the falcon." (1893b). 



73. FALCO COLUMBARIUS COLUMBARIUS (Linnaeus). 

 PIGEON HAWK. 



"Rare. I saw one of these falcons last year pursuing 

 tame pigeons. His performance was poor compared to 

 the brilliant work of the peregrine." (1890e). 



The only original reference to this species that could 

 be found is one of the Doctor's Baldwin County notes 

 that is not very authoritative: "While returning from 

 Dauphin Island at dawn on Sept. 22d, a falcon was seen 

 pursuing a tern off the shore of the Gulf. It was sup- 

 posed from size to be the pigeon hawk." This was in 

 1892. 



The stomach of No. 1106, listed below, "contained re- 

 mains of a small bird." 



No. 947. Female. Greensboro. Oct. 6, 1891. W. C. Avery. 



No. 1106. Male-juv. Greensboro. Dec. 22, 1893. W* C. Avery. 



74. FALCO SPARVERIUS SPARVERIUS (Linnaeus). 

 SPARROW HAWK. 



"Common. Resident. Breeds." (1890e). 



The stomach contents of an adult male taken Mar. 17, 

 1888, near Greensboro, were recorded as "grasshoppers 

 and crickets." It is well known that the food of this in- 

 nocent little hawk consists principally of such insects 

 during the warmer months, while mice enter largely into 

 its bill of fare during the winter, but nevertheless the 

 slaughter of the species continues. 



No. 280. Male. Greensboro. Nov. 28, 1889. W. C. Avery. 



No. 801. Male. Greensboro. Nov. 1, 1890. W. C. Avery. 



No. 953. Male. Greensboro. Nov. 21, 1891. W. C. Avery. 



No. 963. Female. Greensboro. Dec. 13, 1891. W. C. Avery. 



No. 972. Male. Greensboro. Dec. 26, 1891. W. C. Avery 



No. 1003. Male. Baldwin Co., Oct. 2, 1892. W. C. Avery 



No. 1005. Sex (?). Baldwin Co. Oct. 2, 1892. W. C. Avery. 



