36 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



Wilson observes, that the Pigeon-Hawk is generally migratory in the northern 

 and middle parts of the United States, arriving" in Pennsylvania early in the 

 spring, extending its migrations to Hudson's Bay, and, after building and rearing 

 its young, retiring to the south early in November. Mr. Hutchins, in his Notes 

 on the Hudson's Bay Birds, informs us, that this species " makes its nest on 

 the rocks and in hollow trees, of sticks and grass, lined with feathers, laying from 

 two to four white eggs, thinly marked with red spots. The young fly in August. 

 It preys on small birds, which it seizes with dexterity, screaming loudly at the 

 onset ; and when it is disturbed, it will fly round and round, making a continued 

 noise." 



DESCRIPTION 



Of an individual killed at York Factory on the 4th September, 1822, supposed to be a male. 



Colour of the head brownish-black, with reddish-brown margins to the feathers. The 

 whole dorsal aspect is deep broccoli-brown, slightly varied by dark chestnut-brown edgings to 

 the feathers, which are scarcely noticed at first sight, and are most perceptible on the lesser 

 wing coverts. The tail coverts have paler margins, approaching to wood-brown. The tail is 

 black, crossed by four yellowish-grey bars, tinged here and there with brown, and tipped with 

 the same. The inner webs of the bastard wing and quill feathers are marked by five or six 

 large oval spots of yellowish-grey, more or less tinged with brown. Under surface. The 

 cheeks, a streak above the eyes, the throat, breast, belly, and thighs, have a dull ochre- 

 yellow, or yellowish-brown colour,- spotted and streaked with brownish-black. The latter 

 colour forms a large oval mark in the centre of each feather on the breast ; but on the belly 

 and thighs it is confined to a streak along the mid-rib. The linings of the wings are ochre- 

 yellow, spotted with black ; the under surfaces of the quill and tail feathers are deep clove- 

 brown, crossed by rows of oblong, wine-yellow spots. Bill yellowish-grey at the base, bluish- 

 black at the tip. Cere wax-yellow: inside of the mouth bluish; margins of the eyelids yellow. 

 Legs yellow. 



Form, &c. — Bill shaped like that of the preceding species. The tips of the folded wings 

 reach within an inch of the end of the tail, the scapularies are short, and the secondaries and 

 tertiaries reach to the tips of the tail coverts. The third quill feather is the longest, the second 

 is almost as long, and the others in succession are considerably shorter. The tarsi are fea- 

 thered anteriorly for a short way below the joint. The toes are long, with rounded cushions 

 beneath the joints, and sharp curved nails. When the leg is stretched out, the tip of the middle 

 claw reaches to the point of the folded wing. 



Dimensions. 



Length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail 

 „ of the tail ...... 



Extent between the tips of the wings 



The specimen from which the above description was taken was not brought 

 home, having been accidentally destroyed. The description accords nearly with 

 Pennant's, quoted above. 



Inches. 

 11 



Lines. 

 



5 



6 



22 







