288 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
their freedom, they come in and go out among their human brethren, and 
seldom show the repulsive side of their character. In not endowing these 
birds with the same great force of character which she has lavished upon 
the Falcons, Nature has provided them with a means of defence, which is 
as serviceable to them as the powerful talons and bill of their courageous 
brethren. 
Respecting the resident range of this species, as compared with its 
summer dispersions, it has not been observed to winter on the Atlantic 
seaboard beyond New Jersey, and is even more abundant here in summer 
than in the cold season. In Washington, where the bird is said to be 
quite common, no important diminution of its numbers has been noticed 
during several successive winters. In both the Carolinas the same condi- 
tion of affairs is found to exist. Its winter range in the interior seems to 
be higher up, perhaps as far north as Minnesota, for it has been observed 
here late in October, and again in December, but the latter may have been 
an accidental occurrence. According to Dr. Coues, the isothermal line 
corresponding, on the Atlantic coast, with the fortieth parallel of latitude, 
may approximately indicate its farthest northern limit in the winter. 
