484 



PREYING BIRDS — KAPTORES. 



brown, tinged with reil<lish ; lunkT tail coverts white ; upper tail coverts white at base, 

 tipped with brownish-bhick ; tail white at base, with a wide subterminal band of black, 

 and about two other black bands alternating with light cinereous. Under wing coverts 

 white, with brownish-black spots, and a long patch of ashy-brown on the lonirer ones. 



Young. Liglit umber-brown abo\e, much edged with yello\vi^h and redilish-wliitc. A 

 wide baud on abdomcu browuish-black, other under parts jellowiah-white, with a few 



A lagnpus. 



lines and spots of brownish-black. Quills asliy-browu, a large portion of their inner webs 

 white at base, with a subterminal band of light umber-brown, tip white ; libi:e and tarsi 

 pale reildish-yellow, with stripes and spots of dark-brown. 



Length, 19.00 to 23.00; extent, 50.00 to .03.00; wing, 15.00 to 17.00; tail, 8.00 to 9.00 

 Iris pale brown ; bill slate-color ; cere and feet yellow. 



Ilah. Northern America and Europe. 



This siiecies i.s only a •winter vi.sitor in California, as far as known, and T 

 have not seen them south of Santa Clara Valley, though I think some may 

 breed in the higli mountains, as they are seen at the Columbia Eiver in July. 

 In habits they are in winter somewhat gregarious and rather stupid, sitting 

 like owls on the topis of low trees, and allowing a near approach. East of 

 the mountains they go south to Me.xieo. They breed in great numbers in 

 the northern part of the American continent, especially north of Great Slave 

 Lake. The nest is built on a tree, of sticks and twigs, lined with leaves and 

 grass, and usually contains three, sometimes foiu' eggs, thickly blotched with 

 brownish, though sometimes nearly A\hitu. 



