BIRDS OF KANSAS. 283 



neck uearly to the eye. A broad stripe of pale ochraceous running from above 

 the ear coverts back to the occiput, where the two of opposite sides nearly meet. 

 Lower parts purplish cream color, or rosy ochraceous white, deepest posteriorly; 

 jugulum, breast, sides, flanks and tibiae with longitudinal stripes of plumbeous 

 black, these broadest on flanks and abdomen, and somewhat sagittate on the 

 tibise; lower tail coverts with distant transverse bars. Lining of the wing like 

 the sides, but the markings more transverse; inner web of longest primary with 

 nine transverse purplish ochre spots. Basal half of bill pale bluish white, cere 

 rather darker; terminal half (rather abruptly) slate color, the tip deepening into 

 black; iris very dark vivid vandyke brown; naked orbital space pale bluish 

 white, with a slight greenish tint; tarsi and toes lemon yellow, with a slight 

 green cast; claws jet black." 



Length. 



Male 17.50 



Female... 19.73 



Iris brown; bill horn blue, light green at base; cere and eye- 

 lids greenish yellow; legs and feet lemon yellow; claws black. 



This widely-distributed species inhabits the timbered lands 

 along the streams and ponds of water. In actions and general 

 make-up, they are very similar to the Prairie Falcon, and are, I 

 think, fully as swift and fearless, but more easily tamed, and, for 

 this reason, a great favorite in the chivalrous days of falconry. 

 I have had a very good opportunity to observe the birds in the 

 Neosho valley, Kansas, where, for several years, I found them 

 breeding. I have often seen them strike down, with ease, the 

 swiftest of Ducks — the Wood Duck a favorite. Blackbirds 

 also fall an easy prey, sometimes two or three out of a flock being 

 killed at a single dash. They are very noisy while mating, but 

 silent during incubation, the pair sharing alike in the duties of 

 hatching and rearing their young. The males, as far as noticed, 

 sit upon the eggs in the fore part of the day, the females during 

 the latter part of each day, each, while off duty, occasionally 

 feeding the other, but putting in a good share of the time as 

 sentinels, perched upon a favorite dead limb near the nest, 

 ready to give the alarm in case of approaching danger. At 

 such times they scold rapidly, and manifest great anxiety and 

 fear, circling overhead, occasionally alighting, and taking good 

 care to keep out of reach. The fear of man is not without 

 cause, for onr hunters never loose an opportunity to shoot at 



