AVES—HAWE. A57 
THE PIGEON HAWK} 
PossEssEs great spirit and rapidity of flight. He is generally migratory in 
the middle and northern states, arriving in Pennsylvania early in spring, 
and extending his migrations as far north as Hudson’s Bay. After building, 
and rearing his young, he returns to the south early in November. Small 
birds and mice are his principal food. When the reed birds, grak es, and 
red-winged black birds congregate in large flights, he is often observed fol- 
lowing in their rear, picking up the weak, the wounded, or the stragglers; 
and frequently making a sudden and fatal sweep into the very midst of their 
multitudes. The flocks of robins and pigeons are honored with the same 
attentions from this marauder, whose daily excursions are entirely regulated 
by the movements of the great body, on whose unfortunate members he 
fattens. 
Sometimes, when shot at and not hurt, he will fly in circles over the 
sportsman’s head, shrieking out with great violence, as if highly irritated. 
He frequently flies low, skimming a little above the field. 
THE SWALLOW-TAILED HAW K? 
Is a very elegant species, which inhabits the southern districts of the United 
States in summer. It is very abundant in South Carolina and Georgia, and 
still more so in West Florida, and the extensive prairies of Ohio and Indiana 
1 F’, columbarius, Lin. 2, furcatus, Lin. 
58 39 
