Birds of Massachusetts. 77 
founded, it serves the cause of humanity and saves 
the fish-hawk from destruction. 
These birds come upon the coast of Massachusetts 
at the last of March or the beginning of April, keep- 
ing time with the alewives, on which they feed. 
For some reason or other, they seldom breed here. 
The first appearance of frost, is the signal for them 
to retreat to warmer climates. They are not un- 
common in the interior of the country near our lakes 
and large rivers. In winter, they are sometimes 
seen near New Orleans; but this is not by any 
means the extent of their migrations, and these 
probably are individuals which have not strength to 
accompany the rest. 
The American Gosnawx, Falco palumbarius, for- 
merly supposed, on the authority of Bonaparte, to be 
different from the European, is now generally admit-, 
ted to be the same. It is not common in Massa- 
chusetts, nor in any part of the United States; but 
it sometimes follows the flocks of ducks in their 
migration, and destroys considerable numbers. It is 
an active and restless bird, seldom seen off the wing, 
except when devouring its prey, and is so fleet in 
its motions that, in Maine, it will dash down at the 
farmer's door and carry off chickens so rapidly that 
it is hardly possible to shoot the robber. In the 
western country, it follows the immense flocks of 
pigeons, and selects its prey from among them, not- 
withstanding tho swiftness of their flight. Audubon 
saw one of them give chase to a flock of grakles, 
from which he seized four or five in succession, 
