CONDEMNED TO DESTRUCTION 59 



December, and throughout a wide range of localities, not one 

 stomach contained any remains of a domestic bird. In the 

 early spring, before grasshoppers come. Sparrow Hawks often 

 follow a plough very closely, to capture the mice that are 

 ploughed up. Sometimes this bird is half -domestic in its 

 habits, and nests in buildings erected by man. Wherever it 

 is found, it should be a welcome visitor. 



The Pigeon Hawk^ is a sUghtly larger bird than the pre- 

 ceding, very destructive to song by:ds, of little use to man 

 and deserves to be shot wherever found. It kills sparrows, 

 thrushes, goldfinches, vireos, bobolinks, swifts and a host of 

 other species. Out of 56 specimens examined by Dr. Fisher, 

 41 contained small song birds and 2 poultry; 2 only had mice 

 and 16 insects. This is a bird of plain colors, being bluish 

 gray or brownish above, and lighter below. 



Apparently the Duck Hawk,^ a geographic race of the 

 Peregrine Falcon, never devours a mouse or an insect 

 save by mistake. Out of 20 specimens, 7 contained game 

 birds or poultry, 9 had eaten song birds, only 2 contained 

 insects, and 1 a mouse. You may know this bird by the great 

 size and strength of his "pickers and stealers." It can best 

 be studied with a rope, a basket and a choke-bore shotgun 

 loaded with No. 6 shot. 



First, shoot both male and female birds, then collect the 

 nest, and the eggs or young, whichever may be present. In 

 doing this, however, be careful not to shoot the Red-Tailed or 

 Red-Shouldered Hawk— both, good friends of ours, who are en- 



1 Fal'co col-um-ba'ri-us. Length of male, about 10 inches; female, 2 to 3 



inches more. 



" FaL'co ■per-e-gri'nus an-a'tum. Length of male, 17 inches; female, 19 inches. 



