540 THE DESKR'I' SI'ARROW HAWK. 



Icngtli: 8.75-10.50 ("222.3-266.7) : av. of nine s])eciniens: wing 7.24 ( 183.9) : tail 

 4.63 (117.61: l)il! .50 (,12.7). .Adult female, length: 9.00-12.00 (228.6-304.8); 

 av. of eight specimens: wing 7.50 ( 190.5) ; tail 5.06 ( 128.5) : bill .52 ( 13.2). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size, luit ap])earing larger. The black markings 

 ;ibont head. ;ind rufous of upperparts distinctive. 



Nesting. — Xcst: in hollow trees, often in deserted Woodpecker holes or in 

 crannies of cliffs, E<j(/s: 4-6, sometimes 7, creamy, huffy, or vinaceoiis, sprinkled 

 and spotted with deejjer shades of the ground color, or darker reddish browns. 

 .\v. size, 1.38x1.14 (35.1x29), Scasdii: May-June: one brood. 



General Range. — Xorth .America east lo the Rocky Moiuitaius. ,-nid fripui 

 (ircat Slave Lake south to northern South .America. Also Pacific Coast slojie. 



Range in Washington. — West-side, probably resident only (see lielow). 



Authorities. — ?■ Baird, Rep. I'ac. R. R. Surv. l.X., 1858, 14. .\'ot pre\iou^ly 

 ])ublishe(l. jo>eph Grinnell in cf'ist.. 1906. C&S. L'(?j. 



Specimens. — ( U. of \\ . 1 I'>. C. 



MR. JOSEPH (^RIX.Xl'.LL. llie well-known oniitlDJngist of i'.erkeley, 

 pronounces certain Tacoma specimens submitted l>y Air. Dowdes true 

 sparrcrliis. If this stiniiise be correct it fiu'iiislies another example of that 

 "resattiration" of bleached ])ltimage, wliich we siis])ect takes jilacc in the case 

 of several desert races iiiwuling this region of hea\'y rainfall. The only 

 wonder is that Ihe vSpanow I lawks of I'ugei Sound are usuall\- so light- 

 colored, and so out of liarmony with their surrotiiidiiigs. It ma\- he that this 

 tcn<leiic\- to darker coloring is confined (o those few exam])les wliich winlt-r 

 here: but of iliis we ]ia\e no jiroof as yet. 



No. 2KJ. 



DESERT SPARROW HAWK, 



\. ' ). I'. Xo. 3(10 a. Faico sparverius phaliena (Lesson). 



Sj'nonjms. — Wics'l'i'lu.x Si'.\kkow Hawk. Alorsi". Mawk. 1'raikik Hawk. 

 GKASsiioiTi-;!; 1 1 awk. 



Description.— Similar to F. sf^anu-riiis but averaging larger with relatively 

 longer tail: p.'iler with more rufous and somewhat more extensive crown-patch: 

 black l):irs on inner welis df w ing-(|uills not compkte : black 1)ars of u]iperparts 

 in female narrower and those of tail often incomplete.. 



Recognition Marks. — .As in jireceding: jialer. 



Nesting. — X'rsl: in old h'licker hole or iKitural caxity of tree or in cranny of 

 cliff. Kggs; 4-''. cream\' buff', heavi]\ or lightly s])rinkled, or more rarely 

 l)lotche<], with warm cinnamon. \v. size, 1.35x1.13 (34.3x28.7). Season: 

 Alay: time according to altitude; one brood. 



General Range. — Western I'nited States and r.ritish C'olumbia (excejit 



