218 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



often ohscure or wanting; hack, linnanion-lnDW n. in tlio ukiIi . with a few l)lack 

 spots or none; in X.\\e fern ale, with numerous hhick hars; wing coverts, in the 

 malt, asiiy-l)hie, with or witliout black spots; in tXxa female, like the ]>ack ; 

 ((Hills, in l)oth sexes, V)lackish, witli iiiinierous pale or white bars on iinier webs; 

 tail, chestnut, in the male, witii one broad black siibterniinal bar, wiiite tip, anil 

 outer featlier mostly white, witii several black bai-s; in X.h& female, the whole 

 tail witli numerous imperfect black bars; lielow, white, vai'iously tinged with 

 buti' oi- taw ny. in the male, with a few small black spots oi- none ; in tlie female, 

 with many brown streaks; throat and rent, nearly white and inimacidate in 

 both sexes; bill, dark horn; cere and feet, yellow to l>right orange; In.ll; 

 wing, 7 ; tail, ">, more or less. 



Hab. — Whole of North America, south to northern South Anieiica. 



Eggs, four oi- five, deposited in the hollow of a decayed limb, or desei'ted 

 woodpecker's hole. In color, variable, usually yellowisli-brown, blotched all 

 over with l)rown of a darker .sliade. 



The peculiar and handsome markings of this little falcon .serve, 

 even at a distance, to prevent its being mistaken for any other 

 species. Though sometimes seen near the farm-house, it does not bear 

 the stigma of having felonious intentions towards the occupants of the 

 poultry yards, but is credited with the destruction of large numbers 

 of mice, and is, therefore, regarded with favor by the farmer. Tt 

 also feeds freeh' on snakes, lizards, gra.sshoppers, etc., ])ut has the 

 true falcon etiquette of taking only what is newly killed. It is 

 generally distril)uted throughout Ontario, arriving on the southern 

 frontier al)out the end of April, and leaving for the soutli in Sep- 

 tember. 



In the " Birds of Minnesota," page 203, is given an account of an 

 experiment made by M. de Lantrie, to test the value of this species 

 to the farmer. He says : " I took five little Sparrow Haw ks and 

 put them in a cage. The parents immediately brought them food, 

 and T was not surprised to .see that it consisted of twelve mice, four 

 large lizaid.s, and six mole crickets. A meal of like size was l)rought 

 every day for a month. At one time there wei-e fifteen tiold mice, 

 two little birds, and a young rabl)it. Last year T made the same 

 experiment, with similar results ; one meal consisting of twelve small 

 bird.s, one lark, three moles and one hedgehog, in one month, the 

 five baby-hawks rid the world, by actual count, of t'_'() rats and mice, 

 200 mole crickets, and 15)^ lizards." iji \ lew uf the foregoing record, 

 this species is well entitled to the place which I )r. Fisher has given 

 it in Class b, as one of those whose good deeds are in excess of the 

 eAnl, and it is, therefore, entitled to the protection of all interested. 



