107 



PIGEON HAWK. 

 FALCO COLUMBARIUS. 

 [Plate XV.— Fig. ^.—Male.'] 



Linn. Syst. p. 128, Ab. 21. — Lath. Syn. v. I, p, 101, No, ^6,—VEpervterdela Caro^ 

 line, Briss. Orn. 1, p. 238. — Catesb. I,/?. 3, if. 3. — Bartram,/?. 290. — Ttjrton, Syst, 

 V.I, p. 162, — F E ale' 5 Museum, JVo. 352. 



THIS small Hawk possesses great spirit and rapidity of flight. 

 He is generally migratory in the middle and northern states, ar- 

 riving in Pennsylvania early in spring, and extending his migra- 

 tions as far north as Hudson's bay. After building and rearing his 

 young, he retires to the south early in November. Small birds 

 and mice are his principal food. When the Reed-birds, Grakles, 

 and Red-winged Blackbirds congregate in large flights, he is often 

 observed hovering in their rear, or on their flanks, picking up the 

 weak, the wounded or stragglers ; and frequently making a sudden 

 and fatal sweep into the very midst of their multitudes. The flocks 

 of Robins and Pigeons are honored with the same attentions from 

 this marauder; whose daily excursions are entirely regulated by 

 the movements of the great body on whose unfortunate members he 

 fattens. The individual from which the drawing on the plate was 

 taken, was shot in the meadows below Philadelphia in the month 

 of August. He was carrying off a Blackbird (Oriolus phoeniceus) 

 from the flock, and tho mortally wounded and dying, held his prey 

 fast till his last expiring breath ; having struck his claws into its 

 very heart. This was found to be a male. Sometimes when shot 

 at, and not hurt, he will fly in circles over the sportsman's head, 

 shrieking out with great violence, as if highly irritated. He fre- 

 quently flies low, skimming a little above the field. I have never 

 seen his nest. 



