202 NOTES ON THE 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Upper plumage, dull earth-brown, each feather grayish- 

 umber centrally, and with a consiDicuous black shaft-line. Head 

 above, approaching ashy-white anteriorly, the black shaft- 

 streaks being very conspicuous. Secondaries, primary cov- 

 erts, and primaries margined terminally with dull white; the 

 primary coverts with two transverse series of pale-ochrous 

 spots; primaries with spots of the same, corresponding with 

 those of the inner webs. Upper tail coverts tipped and spot- 

 ted beneath the surface with white. Tail clear drab, much 

 lighter than the primaries, but growing darker terminally, 

 having basally a slightly ashy-cast, crossed with six sharply 

 defined, perfectly continuous bands (the last terminal) of ashy- 

 white. Head f rontallJ^ latei'ally and beneath — a collar j-ound the 

 nape (interrupting the brown above) — and entire lower parts, 

 white, somewhat ochraceous, this most perceptible on the 

 tibise; cheeks and ear coverts with sparse, fine, hair-like 

 streaks of black; nuchal collar, jugulum, breast, abdomen, 

 sides, and flanks, with a median linear stripe of clear ochre- 

 brown on each feather; these stripes broadest on the flanks; 

 each stripe with a conspicuous black shaft-streak; tibia3 and 

 lower tail- coverts with fine shaft- streaks of brown, like the 

 broader stripes of the other portions. Chin and throat only, 

 immaculate. Lining of the wings spotted with ochraeous- 

 white and brown in about equal amounts, the former in spots 

 approaching the shaft. Inner webs of the primaries with 

 transverse broad bars of pale-ochraceous — eight on the longest. 



Wing, 7.70; tail, 5; culmen, 0.50; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.25; 

 outer, 0.85; inner, 0.70; posterior. 0.50. 



Habitat, interior and western plains of North America. 



FALCO SPARVERIl S L. (360.) 

 AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 



Arriving not far " from the first day of April the Sparrow 

 Hawk is seen for a short time very frequently. 



They feed much on mice, grasshoppers and crickets, but 

 relish a sparrow when secured. No intelligent farmer .wants 

 these hawks destroyed, so valuable are their habits in the 

 destruction of field mice especially. The pairing season is 

 usually about the middle of May. For the construction of 

 their nests holes of all sorts are employed, but more frequent- 

 ly that of a woodpecker, notably the Golden-winged, but 

 hollow trees with a large knot hole for entrance are the first 

 choice. Here there is a call for some substructure of sticks 

 and twigs, on which are imposed the grass, leaves, moss or 

 feathers, as the surroundings best afforded. As a rule they 



