AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 



217 



•of Norlliei-n Alaska, ranging dui-ing niigration.s to the Imrren coasts 

 of Behring Sea and the Arctic. 



"On the 6th of October, 187S, I saw one of these l)irds dart down 

 and strike its talons into the back of a Burgomaster Gull as the 

 latter was Hying o\er the sea. After holding on for a moment, the 

 gull continuing its Hight unimpeded, the falcon let go, and rising 

 almost directly up for thirty or forty yards went clear off, apparently 

 not desirous of renewing the attack." Although the Pigeon Hawk 

 is a true falcon and consumes a great many small birds of different 

 sorts, Dr. Fisher believes it kills sufficient injurious insects and 

 mammals tf) balance the account, and has accordingly placed it in 

 Class c. In Ontario it is never sufficiently numerous to do serious 

 injury. 



Subgenus TINNUNCULUS Vieillot. 

 FALCO SPARVERIUS Li.vx. 



b")^. American Sparrow Hawk. (360) 



Tarsus and quills, as in roluwhariii'i; crown, ashy-l)lue, with a chestnut 

 patch, sometimes small, or altogether wanting, sometimes occupying nearly all 

 the crown; conspicuous l>lack maxillary and auricular patches, M'hich, with 

 three others artmnd the nape, make seven l)lack places in all, Init a part of them 



