FALCONIDJi: — THE FALCONS. 



291 



Mr. Jackson of West Chester, Penn., gives March 24 the earliest, and April 

 15 the hxtest, in which lie has met with its fresh e<J!>s. 



Mr. Ilidgway obtained two eggs of this Hawk at IMonnt Carniel, 111., on 

 the 6th of March, the nest having been commenced early in February. It 

 M-as placed on the summit of a black-gum tree (JVi/ssa rmdtiflora), and rested 

 upon tlie topmost branches, about ninety feet from the ground. It was lined 

 with corn-husks, gathered frona a field close by. The eggs (No. 12,740, S. I. 

 Collection) measure, respectively, 2.45 and 2.50 in lengtli, by 1.95 and 2.00 

 in breadth. Tlieir color is plain bluish-white, entirely free from markings 

 of any kiuil. 



In Calif(jrnia, the var. calurus is stated to be common in all parts of the 

 State not destitute of trees, and to reside permanently wherever found, pair- 

 ing only during the breeding-season. They prey upon hares and other 

 small quadrupeds, upon smaller birds, and upon reptiles. Dr. Cooper 

 states that at times, when food is plenty, they become e.xcessively fat. They 

 are known to occasionally seize a fowl from tlie iarin-yard. During the 

 middle of the day, in the cold weather, they are said to soar very Iiigli in 

 tlie air, and occasionally to disappear also in the manner of their eastern 

 relatives, the Butco horcalin. They are said to be abundant and resident 

 species in Washington Territory, having been found by Dr. Suckley quite 

 numerous at Puget Sound, but scarcer on the Upper Columbia, east of tlie 

 Cascade jMountains. It seems to be more daring than is common with the 

 borealis, for Dr. Suckley states that while he was stationed at Fort Steila- 

 coom he noticed that the poultry-yards were as much harassed by this 

 Hawk as by the Goshawk, not hesitating to seize poultry from the very 

 doors of the dwelling-houses. 



Dr. Kennerly states that this Hawk was met with by him between the 

 coast of Texas at Indianola, and the Eio Grande at El Paso del Norte. It 

 seemed to feed indifferently upon reptiles, particularly lizards, and the 

 smaller quadrupeds and birds. 



Dr. Cooper states that the nests of this species are numerous in the val- 

 leys and on the lower mountains of California. They are generally built in 

 the forks of a sycamore or other large trees, and formed of twigs pretty 

 finely constructed, and with a very distinct cavity. Eggs, taken by Dr. 

 Cooper near San Diego, were laid about the 20th of March, and were three 

 in number. They measured 2.28 by 1.76 inches, were of a dull yeUowish- 

 wdiite, with faint brown spots. While Dr. Cooper was climbing to the nest, 

 the old birds darted towards him from a neighboring bluff, but wdien within 

 a few feet of his head they turned away and did not attempt to make an 

 assault. 



Two eggs belonging to the variety calurics were obtained by Mr. E. Samuels 

 near Petaluma, Cal., in 1856 ; measure 2.31 inches in length by 1.87 in 

 breadth. The shape of one egg is an almost exact ovoid, slightly tending to 

 a spheroid, one end being hardly perceptibly larger than tlie other. Its 



