672 



S YS TEMA TIC S YNOPSIS. — RA P TORES — A CCIPI TRES. 



be tawny or rufous. A spirited little Falcon, generally distributed in N. Am., common, repre- 

 sentine the Merlin t)f Europe, F. regidm. Nests chiefly nortlierly, on branches or in holes in 

 trees, or on rocks, April-June; eggs commonly 4 or 5, ranging in size and shape from 1.50 

 to 1.80 X 1-25, some being subspherical, others elongate-oval. The coloration ranges from 



Fig. 4G2. — American Sparrow Hawk. 



nearly uniform deep rich brown (chestnut or burnt sienna) to whitish or white, only marked 

 with a few in.listinct dots of dull grayish or drab. Such extremes are connected by every 

 degree; a yellowisli-brown ground-color, irregularly splashed with rich ruddy brown, is the 

 usual style. The markings may be very evenly distributed, or mostly gathered in a wreath 



