The Pigeon-Hawk ( Falco columbarius) at Sea. — While returning from 
a trip to Labrador, last summer, I observed small Hawks, undoubtedly of 
this species, at a considerable distance from land, on two occasions. 
The first occasion was on the 5th of September. We were crossing the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence, and were in sight of the coast of Newfoundland, 
which was about twelve or fifteen miles distant. As many as four Hawks 
were seen, which came so near that we were able to recognize them as 
Pigeon-Hawks. They seemed to be perfectly at home, flying over the 
water, and showed no fear of the vessel, several times alighting on the 
rigging. 
The first that appeared had a Leach’s Petrel, dead, in his talons. He 
alighted with this, on the fore-crosstrees, and proceeded to eat it. The 
sailors were unwilling that we should fire into the rigging, so a young 
man went up the fore-rigging, and nearly caught the Hawk, which flew 
off, leaving his prey behind him. Three other Hawks came off to the ves- 
sel during the day, and were all shot, but all, unfortunately, fell into the 
water and could not be secured. The day was bright, clear, and warm, 
with a light wind from the north, so that we made very little progress. 
The Hawks appeared to come from the direction of Newfoundland. 
The second occasion was during our run from Cape Sable to Boston, 
about fifty miles from the nearest land. It was the 10th of September, a 
bright day, with a- strong northwest wind. A small Hawk, probably a 
Pigeon-Hawk, passed the vessel, flying to windward. Dr. Coues, in his 
“ Notes on the Ornithology of Labrador,” mentions that a Hawk of this 
species came on board their vessel during their return voyage, in a very 
exhausted condition. This bird, however, was very shy, and was imme- 
diately frightened away from the vessel. He also mentions seeing sev- 
eral Sparrow-Hawks while in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Cape Breton 
Island, which “ circled quite closely around the vessel, showing but little 
Birds within Ten Miles of Point ' 
d© Monts, O&n, 0om©8/ii &M©rriam 
69. Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. — Not rare, and doubtless 
breeds. 
BuaN.O.O* ‘7, Oct, X 882 , p«2S7 
- 
9 It did not stay with us long; but on the fol- 
lowing day, Sept. 24, several other birds appeared, viz., three Hawks, a 
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla yarrelli ) , and two Saxicolce (probably Saxicola 
^ c vnanthe , the Wheatear)£p We were now nearly a thousand miles from 
q the Irish coast, and the Hawks and other small bifds continued to follow 
j the vessel, one of the former catching a Stormy Petrel, which it proceeded 
1 to devour on the rigging of the ship. That evening two of the Hawks 
J were captured by a sailor, and one of them survived the voyage. On the 
£ day after their capture I saw them, and believe they belonged to the • 
i American species of Pigeon Hawk (F alco c olumbariu s ') . y 
Birds observe&by 
(Vest- !0 Pigeon Hawk, 
12 
