BUCK HAWK. 107 



tridges; but perliaps his favorite food is the Eock-Doves wliicli nestle 

 on the ocean cliffs around him, and the Stock-Doves in the more inland 

 districts." (Hist. British Birds, vol. i, 1883, p. 25.) 



In America it often attacks pigeons, and the following note from Mr. 

 George Boudin shows that sometimes it wUl take up quarters in a 

 large city for that purpose: "On the 13th of September, 1868, 1 shot a 

 fine specimen (male) at the corner of Fifth and Girard avenue, Phila- 

 delphia. For nearly three weeks this bird of prey had made its home 

 in St. Peter's steeple, and lived on pet pigeons. Every day he would 

 come from his hiding place and soar into the air, and start his victims 

 into flight; after they had made two or three circles he would make a 

 dart at the frightened birds, and never missed his prey; he would then 

 seek his hiding place in the cui)ola and dine on his feathered booty." 

 (Forest and Stream, vol. viii, 1877, p. 161.) 



It has been known also to feed on petrels, small gulls, and terns. 

 Col. A. J. Grayson mentions one which remained near a vessel for 

 two days and captured at least a dozen duskypetrels. (Proc. Bost. Soc. 

 Nat. Hist., vol. xiv, 1872, p. 269.) 



Dr. 0. Hart Merriam, speaking of a Duck Hawk which was shot on 

 Falkner Island, Connecticut, says: "During her brief visit she had 

 made sad havoc among the Terns, and her crop was greatly distended 

 with their remains, which had been swallowed in incredibly large 

 pieces; whole legs, and the long bones of the wings were found entire 

 and unbroken. Indeed she was perfectly gorged, and contained the 

 remains of at least two adult Terns, besides a mass of newly -hatched 

 young." (Birds of Conn., 1877, p. 82.) 



At Oyster Bay, Long Island, !N"ew York, Hon. Theodore Eoosevelt 

 states that "a pair appeared in September, 1875, and worked great 

 havoc among the night herons. I have seen one fly into a flock of young 

 and kill three without picking up any." 



It sometimes takes comparatively small birds. Dr. E. A. Mearns 

 found in the stomach and crop of one he secured at Sayville, Long Is- 

 land, the remains of a robin, gray-checked thrush, catbirds, and warb- 

 lers; and Dr. J. G. Cooper says: "I have seen one pursue a swallow, 

 and turning feet upwards seize it flying, with perfect ease. I have 

 also seen them pursue quail near the coast; but their chief prey con- 

 sists of ducks and other water-birds, which they seize on the wing or 

 on the water, frequently carrying off" birds heavier than themselves." 

 (Ornith. Cala., Land Birds, 1870, p. 456.) 



It will attack some of the smaller birds of prey, as the following will 

 show : "An individual of this bird was taken by Col. Grayson at the Tres 

 Marias Islands [Mexico]. When shot, it was endeavoring to capture a 

 Sparrow Hawk, indicating its indifference as to the game it pursues. 

 He adds that this bird attacks with vigor everything it sees, from the 

 size of a Mallard Duck down, and is the terror of all small birds." 

 (Hist. North A. Birds, vol. iii, 1874, p. 138.) 



