840 THE GAME FALCONS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
2nd. That an organ over-developed in one direction will be 
under-developed in some other: e.g., the case of the long bones, 
already cited. 
rd. That time may be an element in this compensation: i.e. 
in rachitis deficient deposit of bony material may be followed 
later in the disease by an excessive deposit of it in the same 
bones. 
4th. That the influence of this law may extend from one con- 
ception to another, as illustrated by the case related by Meckel. 
oe 
OŘ 
THE GAME FALCONS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
THE PIGEON HAWK. 
BY WM. WOOD, M.D. 
i i 
Tus daring and spirited little hawk (Falco columbarius), which 
is peculiar to this continent, is found more or less common all 
over the United States and extends its migrations beyond the 
limits both north and south. Dr. Richardson says “it is not 
uncommon in 57° north latitude.” Cassin says ‘‘it is found both 
on the Pacific and Atlantic coast and its locality may be stated as 
the whole of temperate North America.” Audubon found them 
quite abundant in Texas “‘ where he shot five in a short time.” I 
somewhat at a loss to know what interpretation to put upon 
the word abundant as used by Audubon. If it is received ac- 
cording to the common acceptation of the word, it is wholly at - 
variance with my experience, and with that of my collectors, and 
of those with whom I exchange. The fact of shooting five in a 
short time proves nothing as to its abundance. They may all 
have belonged to one brood. Allen, in his ornithological notes on 
the birds of the Great Salt Lake valley, says that “the pigeon 
hawk and duck hawk were both frequent.” This is I think the 
most that can be said of the abundance of this hawk anywhere. 
While it is not uncommon in some sections, in others it is very 
rare. Nuttall says, ‘‘ It is, I believe, never seen in New England.” 
For many years I believed that he was correct in this assertion, 
for, having used my gun quite frequently in Vermont, Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut for twenty-three years prior to 1859, I had 
