NATURAL HISTORY. 
401 
shy and solitary birds, (as, for example, the Hylatomus pileatus,) which 
are gradually retiring with the clearing up of the forests to more 
mountainous and inaccessible regions. Nevertheless, the pertinacity 
with which some birds hold their ground is surprising. Thus the 
common partridge, though so continually persecuted by sportsmen, 
is still very numerous, even in the immediate vicinity of the city. A 
total change of habit by civilization, sometimes to be observed, is ex- 
tremely interesting. There can be no doubt that before the settle- 
ment of the country the Ghaetura pelasgia bred in hollow trees. This 
habit is now totally lost, the bird finding chimneys better suited to its 
wants. In like manner, the Hirundo liorreorum now breeds altogether 
on the rafters and beams of barns and outhouses, while the II. luni - 
frons is gradually abandoning the sides of cliffs for the convenient 
situations afforded by the projecting eaves of buildings. The Progne 
purpurea always gives preference to the boxes now everywhere placed 
for its f accommodation. 
With these brief and very cursory remarks, which might be greatly 
extended did space permit, we proceed to the list of the species ascer- 
tained to inhabit the District. Our observations, from which the 
paper has been prepared, have extended over a period of nearly five 
years, during which all the time that could be spared from other oc- 
cupations has been devoted to the study of birds. No species has 
been admitted which has not been actually detected in the District 
or its immediate vicinity. A few of whose existence there can be 
little or no doubt, are included in brackets, but still are not counted 
in the list. The date given for the arrival and departure of any bird 
is the mean of those observed during each successive year, since the 
appearance and disappearance of birds, depend somewhat on the 
early or late advance of the season. It is regretted that the account 
of some of the water birds is so scanty and incomplete; but it is hoped 
that the very full details of most of the land birds will in a measure 
atone for the deficiency in this respect. 
1. Cathartes aufa, (Linn.,) 111. — Turkey Buzzard. Permanent res- 
ident. Abundant. Not ordinarily gregarious, but collects in great 
numbers where offal of any description is exposed. 
2. Falco columbarius , Linn. Pigeon Hawk. Rather rare, but few 
having been observed. Very shy. Sometimes exposed for sale in 
the market. 
3. Falco ( Tinnunculus ) sparverius , Linn. Sparrow Hawk. Resi- 
dent. Abundant. Generally found in open fields, about hedges, 
stumps, dead trees, &c. 
4. Aslur atricapillus , (Wils.,) Bon.-— Goshawk. Very rare; only 
occasionally observed during the' winter months. 
5. Accipiter cooper i, Bon. — Cooper’s Hawk. Resident. One of the 
most common hawks. Frequents chiefly open fields, searching for 
mice, small birds, &c. 
6. Accipiter fuscits, (Gm.,) Bon.— Sharp-shinned Hawk. Resident. 
Yery abundant, and the least shy of the hawks. Frequents hedges, 
ditches, brier patches, &c. 
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