310 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



Duck hawk, Falco peregrinus ncBvius. 



Caracara eagle, Polyborus cheriway. 



White-tailed kite, Elanus glaucus. 



Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus. 



Mississippi kite, Ictinia subccerulea. 



Rough legged buzzard, Archbuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. 



Bald eagle, HallcBtus leucocephalus. 



Mexican Goshawk, Asturina nitida plagita. 



The first table includes hawks which regularly and annually migrate, never 

 remaining far north save in exceptional cases. The second table comprises ir- 

 regular or quasi migrants, which journey north in summer from their southern 

 limit, or south in winter from their northern habitat. The first series of birds are 

 compelled to migrate. They live more or less on small birds, reptiles, frogs, etc. 

 The reptiles and frogs hibernate, and the small birds migrate south, compelHng 

 the hawks to follow them to obtain a subsistence. It was intimated above that 

 they follow the pigeons in their migrations south. Such, indeed, is the case, 

 and many an unwary bird falls prey to their voracity. The principal rendezvous 

 in the United States of their flocking for migration south, I have reason to be- 

 lieve, is at Point aux Pelee, Canada. This point extends perhaps fifteen miles 

 into Lake Erie. Just a short distance out in the lake is Point aux Pelee Island, 

 extending several miles toward the American shore ; next beyond, in the same 

 direction, is Gull Island, then Middle Island, then the large Kelly's Island, and 

 finally a long point running out from the western side of Sandusky Bay. Along- 

 side of this north and south range is another comprising the East Sister, Old 

 Hen and Chickens, and the three Bass Islands. Here, then, is a double range 

 extending across Lake Erie, terminating at Point aux Pelee and forming the most 

 accessible route south for all migrants. As the myriads of small birds congregate 

 at Point aux Pelee to effect a crossing of a great body of water, we find every 

 species of the regular migrating hawks mentioned above, on hand, ready to 

 snatch a helpless booty and slaughter a vast number of victims. At this remark- 

 able location I camped a month with the United States corps of engineers, in the 

 fall of 1876, and spent hours — I may say days — watching with an awe which only 

 a lover of nature can feel, the long line of birds passing on to the States. As well 

 think of counting the sands of the sea as those birds; day and night, through 

 storm and calm, the armies swept on in almost endless train. I pause in the hur- 

 ry of business at times ; and the memory of such a scene carries me, in imagina- 

 tion, back to the lonely, uninhabited and desolate point of sand, miles from civ- 

 ilization, where, in solitude, and alone with the infinite, I saw His creatures pass 

 like swarms of insects, obeying His eternal laws. 



It seems pertinent at this time to follow the birds of prey on their southern 

 flight and examine their conduct south. I was enabled to accomplish this essen- 

 tial journey. The Corps of Engineers were ordered south on the Mississippi 

 River. We camped at Cairo and surveyed a great area around, including the 



