THE GAME FALCONS OF NEW ENGLAND. 341 
never shot a single specimen ; and furthermore, from 1847 to 1859, 
many, and probably most, of the hawks shot in this vicinity were 
brought to me, as it was known my museum was free to all, and 
consequently every one was interested to increase the number of 
specimens and enhance the attractions and value of my cabinet, 
and during this time not a single specimen of the pigeon hawk 
was brought to my office, although it was generally known that 
I was very anxious to obtain one. There were probably fifty or 
more specimens brought to me that the &portsmen called pigeon 
hawks, consisting mostly of Cooper’s, sparrow, and sharp-shinned 
hawks, mostly the latter. Dr. Crary, of Hartford, who was several 
years my senior in collecting, had not shot or received a single 
specimen from New England prior to this time. With. these facts 
before me I was prepared to endorse the assertion of Nuttall. 
The habits of some of our birds were not as well understood then 
as at present. We are now aware that oftentimes there is a lapse 
of several years between the times of visitation. Thus it has 
been with the pigeoh hawk. In 1859 they were as common as any 
of our Rapacia. In 1860 they weré less common, and since that 
time I have only occasionally received a specimen—one in 1871 
and none the past season. They probably have left again for an 
indefinite period. 
This bird when sitting on a tree so closely resembles a pigeon 
that it will oftentimes deceive the most expert hunter. One of the 
specimens brought me was shot for a pigeon, and the mistake was 
not discovered until the bird was picked up. It is from this strik- 
ing similarity that I suppose it derives its name. Its flightis very 
rapid, and the daring spirit that it exhibits is not surpassed by any 
bird of its size, for it will not only attack birds larger than itself, 
but it has even been known to seize birds suspended in cages 
beside the house. When shot at and not wounded it will fly in 
circles over the head of the sportsman uttering short piercing 
Shrieks. The little corporal hawk of Nuttall, and the Falco 
temerarius of Audubon, are one and the same bird, and are now 
considered by naturalists the adult of the pigeon hawk. At what 
age it arrives at adult plumage I am unable to say. It certainly 
is not the first year, and so far as is known to ornithologists it 
may take several years. It would seem from the testimony of 
Cassin to be at least three years. He says, “ There are three well 
defined stages exhibited in a large number of specimens before 
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