1894
Sept 25
(No 3)
Lake Umbagog, Maine.
  I am beginning to lose faith in [delete]respect for[/delete] the supposed powers
of the Duck Hawk. While we were in the river this
morning we heard the notes of Pectoral Sandpipers and
looking towards the Outlet saw about a dozen of these
birds rising hurriedly from the marsh with a Duck
Hawk (a young male & perhaps the same bird
which chased the Kingfisher into the cove on the morning
of the 23rd) in close pursuit. Dashing into the midst 
of the flock he separated one bird from the rest and
drove it out over the open Lake. There seemed to be
absolutely no hope for it but thrice as the Falcon
closed in it eluded his talons by an abrupt turn.
At the third failure the Hawk, to my great surprise,
gave up the chase and rising high in air began soaring in
small circles on set wings, drifting off rapidly before
the strong wind. The Pectoral regained the flock
which quickly disapeared in the direction of Upton
having evidently been too thoroughly frightened to
think of returning to their feeding ground.
[margin]Duck Hawk
& Pectoral[/margin]
  What does it mean, these repeated failures of
Duck Hawks to catch a seemingly easy prey? This
bird certainly appeared in earnest but if really so he
was a sad bungler.