BIRDS OF KANSAS. 257 



quill (fourth). Fourth quill longest; third shorter than the fifth; second inter- 

 mediate between sixth and seventh; first 2.80 shorter than the longest; gradua- 

 tion of tail 1.00. Adult female: Similar to the male. Forehead tinged with 

 brownish; upper plumage much less bluish. Neck and ear coverts uniformly 

 rufous, with black shaft streaks, there being no ashy wash as In the male. Tail 

 decidedly less bluish than in the male, crossed with four bands, three of which 

 are exposed. The rufous bars beneath less vinaceous than In the male, but of 

 about the same amount, rather predominating on the tibiae. Fourth and fifth 

 quills longest and equal; third longer than sixth; second intermediate between 

 sixth and seventh; first three inches shorter than longest. Young mule: Above, 

 grayish umber; feathers of forehead, crown and nape faintly edged laterally 

 with pale rusty; occiput unvaried blackish, feathers white beneath the surface. 

 Wing coverts, scapulars and interscapulars narrowly bordered with pale yellow- 

 ish umber; rump and upper tail coverts bordered with rusty. Tail paler umber 

 than the back, narrowly tipped with white, and crossed by four bands of brownish 

 black, the first of which is only partially concealed. Scapulars and upper tail 

 coverts showing much concealed white, in form of roundish spots, on both webs. 

 Beneath, clear white, without any yellowish tinge; throat with a medial and latr 

 eral series of clear dark brown streaks; jugulum, breast, sides, flanks and abdo- 

 men with numerous stripes of clear sepia, each showing a darker shaft streak; 

 tibite with longitudinal streaks of paler and more rusty brown; lower tail coverts 

 immaculate. Young female: Similar to young male; more varied, however. 

 The black middle streaks of feathers of head above narrower, causing more 

 conspicuous streaks; white spots of scapular region considerably exposed; longi- 

 tudinal stripe beneath narrower and more sparse." 



Stretch of 

 Length. -wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 17.50 31.25 9.00 8.50 2.65 .65 .30 



Female... 20.00 34.50 10.50 9.50 2.75 .80 .30 



Iris bright yellow; bill and claws bluish black, light at base; 

 cere greenish; legs and feet greenish yellow. 



The birds are quite common in the Southern and Middle 

 States, but rather rare northward, where they are only summer 

 residents. They frequent the woodlands and groves skirting 

 our prairie streams. A dashing, courageous bird, with the gen- 

 eral make-up and actions of the Sharp-shinned, but they are not 

 as destructive, killing only to satisfy hunger. Their ordinary 

 flight is a quick flapping of the wings, relieved occasionally by 

 sailing. Their slender build and long, rudder-like tail enables 

 them to swiftly wind their way through the trees and to snatch 

 a squirrel or lizard from the branches with as much apparent 

 ease as they swoop down upon their prey in the open lands. 

 Rabbits, mice, small birds. Bob-whites and Ducks help to make 



—17 



