Le Petit Caporal by John James Audubon art print

An archival premium Quality Art Print of the LIttle Caporal or Pigeon Hawk by John James Audubon for sale by Brandywine General Store. Mr. Audubon features a beautiful male specimen of the pigeon hawk standing erect on an old chestnut fence post which has a vine growing around it. The pigeon hawk is also known as the Merlin or as in this picture "The Little Corporal". This smaller size raptor was picture or plate number 75 in the 1st Havell edition of the ornithological reference book The Birds of America written by Audubon over the decade of the 1830s. Falco Temerarius - Mr Audubon describes this raptor thus "This beautiful little Hawk appears to be nearly allied to the European Hobby Falcons and is not inferior to that species in spirit and activity. I procured the individual represented, in April 1812, near Fatland Ford in Pennsylvania, whilst in pursuit of a Dove, which it would doubtless have secured, had I not terminated its career. When I first discovered this species, the individual was standing perched on an old fence-stake, in the position in which it is figured. Never having met with another of the kind, I conclude that it is extremely rare in the United States. Of its nest or young I am unable to say any thing at present.The name which I have given to this new and rare species was chosen at the time when Napoleon le grand was in the zenith of his glory. Every body knows that his soldiers frequently designated him by the nickname of Le Petit Caporal which I thought more suitable to to our little Hawk, than the names Napoleon or Bonaparte which I should have adopted, had I been so fortunate as to procure a new Eagle. In a later edition of the book this was written - The Pigeon Hawk ranges very extensively over the United States, and extends its migrations far beyond their limits on either side. Mr. TOWNSEND found it on the Rocky Mountains, as well as along the shores of the Columbia river. Dr. RICHARDSON mentions it as not uncommon about York Factory, in latitude 57 degrees, and it is not improbable that it wanders farther, as he speaks of having seen a small Hawk on the north shore of Great Bear Lake, in latitude 66 degrees, which may have been a male as small as the one represented in my plate......" Audubon bird print #75