FALCO COLOIBAKIUS, PIGEON HAWK. 345 



build a large, bulky nest of sticks and other coarse material, as noticed 

 by Dr. Wood on Taleott Mountain, and by Audubon on the cliffs of the 

 Labrador coast. The eggs of this species are also stated to be from 

 two to five in number, four being- the usual nest-complement. Oology 

 is attractive and in many respects satisfactory, but it is certainly tlie 

 most unsafe department of ornithology. 



Mr. Allen continues the subject in his later communication to the 

 American Naturalist, as above quoted : " One or more pairs of these 

 birds have been seen about 3Ii)uuts Tom and Holyoke every season 

 since the first discovery of their eggs at the former locality, in IsGi. 

 Mr. Bennett has since carefully watched them, and his frequent laboii- 

 ous seai'ches for their nests have been well rewarded. In ISGG he took 

 a second set ot eggs, three in number, from the eyrie previously occu- 

 pied. Id ISOT the male bird was killed late in April, and this appar- 

 eutly prevented their breeding there that year, as they probably other- 

 wise would have doue ; at least no nest was that year discovered. Li 

 1868 Hawks of this species were seen about the mountains, and, although 

 they reared their young there, all effort to discover their nest was inef- 

 fectual. The present year (1869) they commeuced to lay in the old 

 nestiug-pl ce. but as they were robbed when but one egg had been de- 

 posited, they deserted it, and cbose a site still more inaccessible. Here 

 they were equally unfortunate; for, during a visit to the mountain in 

 company with Mr. Bennett, April 2S. we had the pleasure of discovei'iug 

 their second eyrie, and from which, with considerable difiBculty. three 

 freshly-laid eggs were obtained. 2sot discourased by this second mis- 

 fortune, they nested again, this time depositing their eggs in the old 

 eyrie, from which all, excepting the last set of eggs, have been obtained. 

 Again they were unfortunate, Mr. Bennett removing their second set ot 

 eggs, three in number. May 23d, at which time incubation had just com- 

 meuced. The birds remained about the mountain all the summer, and, 

 from the anxiety they manifested in August, it appears not improbable 

 that they laid a third time, and at this late period had unfledged young." 



Accounts from the West are meagre. The only indications from the 

 Missouri region I have seen are Dr. Haydeu's and Prof. Snow's. Mr-. 

 Dall found the bird in Alaska; a j)air nested on a dead spruce, and had 

 young nearly ready to fly June Isf. Dr. Cooper observes that it is resi- 

 dent along the whole coast of Southern California, but migratory north 

 of the Cohimbia. It breeds in cavities of the lofty, inaccessible cliffs 

 overhanging the water, both along the main-land and ou the islands. 

 •■ On Santa Barbara Island, in May. a pair which probably were stiU feed- 

 ing their young, swept boldly around my head, when I must have been 

 fully half a mile from the nest, and I shot the female, a very fine speci- 

 men. I have seen one pursue a Swallow, and, turning feet upward, 

 seize it flying with perfect ease.'' 



FALCO COLOIBAEIUS, Linn. 

 Pigeon Hawk. 



Falco cohtmharim. LlXN.. Syst. X.nt. i. 1766, 10^ {Ac. jjahtmiarim. Cates.. i. 3 : Jc. caro- 

 liiiensis, Br.iss.. i. 375 . — Forjt.. Philos. Tr. Isii. 177-2, SrJ. — Gm., Svst. Xat. i, 

 175^. i-1.— Lath.. IdiI. Orn. i. 1790. 44. — Dacd., Tr. Om. ii. 1500. Si.— Shaw, 

 Gen. Zool. vii, 155— Crv., E. A. id ed. i. 3*J.— Wn^.. Am. Oru. ii. IrlO. 107. 

 pi. i:>, f. 3.— .Tard., ed. Wils. i. 254.— Ja5izs.. ed. Wils. i. 61.— Brew., ed. WiU. 

 6S3.— Bp.. Syn. 15'25. 3-? : Isis. 1>3J. llSii— Xutt., Man.'i. 15:'-J. 00.— Less.. Tr. 

 Oru. 9-2- ElCH. & Sw.. F. B. A. ii, 1531. 35,— Sw.. Cias-if. B. ii. 1537, -JIO.— 

 ACD.. Oru. Bii>j. i, l-3'2. 400: v, 365 : pi. iij: .*vu, l-.'.;'. 16 : B. Am. i. 1540, -5, 

 pL 21.— Bp., List, 1:35. 4.— Gir;.. B. L. L Irll, 17.— DeKay. X, Y, ZooL i, 1^44, 



