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Deane, Unusual Abundance of the Goshawk. 
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UNUSUAL ABUNDANCE OF THE AMERICAN GOS- 
HAWK (ACC I PI TER ATRICAPILLUS ). 
BY BUTHVEN DEANE. 
Replacing the notable migration of the Snowy Owl in the 
winter of 1905-06, we have this season been visited by an unusual 
influx of these bold robbers of our game and looters of the poultry 
yard. I believe there has not been such a flight since the fall and 
winter of 1896-97 ; when at that time they were particularly abun- 
dant in portions of New England, as they have been the present 
season. 
It is reasonable to suppose, as in the case of the owls, that a 
lack of their favorite food forced them south of their usual range. 
All specimens examined are reported in good condition, though 
in some cases the stomachs have been entirely empty. I have 
obtained most of my information from taxidermists, and to them 
as well as to others I express my hearty thanks for their assistance 
and for records of some two hundred and seventy-five specimens. 
The S. L. Crosby Co., taxidermists, Bangor, Me., report under 
date of Feb. 1, 1907, having received from twenty-five to thirty 
specimens. The first ones were sent in early in the season, the 
last two on Feb. 1, 1907. This number exceeded any previous 
year, and nearly all specimens were in adult plumage. 
Mr. Wm. Cooper, taxidermist, Milo, Me., writes under date of 
Feb. 27, 1907, that he had received seven specimens of the Gos- 
hawk this winter prior to Dec. 25, 906, but they ceased coming 
in after the weather became severe. 
Mr. Walter D. Hinds, taxidermist, Portland, Me., writing under 
date of Feb. 8, 1907, informs me that twenty-five specimens of 
the Goshawk had been sent to him since Oct. 26, 1906, they 
having been received from Cape Elizabeth and Damariscotta, 
Me., Gorham, N. H., and other points. All were adult birds. 
Capt. Herbert L. Sphiney, Keeper of Seguin Light Station, Me., 
writing under date of Feb. 15, 1907, states that these hawks have 
been quite abundant in Sagadahoc County, Me., during the past 
fall and early winter, and while he had seen only two on Seguin 
