. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . mice constitute its principal food ; and ac-cording to Wilson, it follows often in the rear of the gregariousbirds, such as the Blackbirds and Reedbirds, as well as afterthe flitting flocks of Pigeons and Robins, picking up the strag-glers, the weak and unguarded, as its legitimate prey. Some-times, when shot at without effect, it will fly in circles aroundthe gunner and utter impatient shrieks, — probably in appre-hension for the safety of the mate, or to communicate a cryof alarm. The Pigeon Hawk is a conimon migrant through
. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . mice constitute its principal food ; and ac-cording to Wilson, it follows often in the rear of the gregariousbirds, such as the Blackbirds and Reedbirds, as well as afterthe flitting flocks of Pigeons and Robins, picking up the strag-glers, the weak and unguarded, as its legitimate prey. Some-times, when shot at without effect, it will fly in circles aroundthe gunner and utter impatient shrieks, — probably in appre-hension for the safety of the mate, or to communicate a cryof alarm. The Pigeon Hawk is a conimon migrant through New England,Ohio, and southern Ontario. It is always late in migrating, and afew examples have been seen in Massachusetts in midwinter. Itbreeds sparingly in the northern portions of New England, and theMaritime Provinces of Canada. Its breeding area extends northto the lower fur countries, and in winter it ranges to the SouthernStates and South .America. Note. — One example of the European Merlin {Falco fegiihis)has been captured off the coast of I ■^.r -^-V . N AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. Falco sparverius. Char. Adult male : head bluish ash, with reddish patch on crown, andblack patch on sides and nape ; back rufous ; wings bluish and black inbars ; tail tawny, with black band, and tipped with white ; below, buffish ortawny. Female : rufous barred with black ; underparts buffy streakedwith tawny ; tail tawny, with blackish bars. Length lo inches. jVes/. Usually in cavities of trees, often in Woodpeckers holes, some-times in deserted nest of a Crow. £gi^s. 5-7; buffish, occasionally white, blotched with dull red andbrown; X i-i-- This beautiful and singularly marked bird appears to resideprincipally in the warmer parts of the United States. They areparticularly abundant in the winter throughout South Carolina,Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, whither they assemble fromthe remote interior of the Northern States, wandering in sum-mer as far as the Rocky Mounta
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsnorthamerica
