FALCO. — IITEROFALCO, 305 



2. Russian Lapland, 8th March (/. Seobohni Coll. 

 Wolley). 



1. Faesjoon, Sweden, 1st June {3repes). Seebohni Coll. 



2. Naliiua, East Bothnia, lOtli June Salvin-Godman Coll. 



(J. Wolley). 

 4. Livonia, Baltic Provinces, June Seebohni Coll. 

 {Russow). 



Falco columbarius, Linn. 



Falco columbarius, Blakisfon, Ihis, 1801, p. .315; 72ow, Canud. Nat. vii. 

 p. 142 (1862) ; id. Nat. Hist. Ecu. 18C)2, p. 270; Sharps, Cat. Birds 

 B. M. i. p. 408 (1874) ; Nelson, Bvport Nat. Hist. Alaska, p. 148 

 (1887) ; Bendire, Life-Hist. N. Amer. Birds, i. p. 2'J8, pi. x. rigs. 4 

 & 8 (1892) ; MacFarlane, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mas. xiv. p. 4;!5 (18U2) ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 276 (ISlJO). 



Falco (jEsalon) lithofalco, Baird, Breiver Sf Bidgw. N. Amer. Birds, iii. 

 p. 144 (1874). 



The eggs of the American Merlin or Pigeon-Hawk are varinble 

 in colour, but they are not separable from those of F. regains. 

 Thej' measure from 1"5 to 1"7 in length, and from 1-2 to 1'25 in 

 breadth. 



1. North America. Mons. Bourgeau [P.]. 



2. Fort Yulvon, Mouth of the Porcupine Salvin-Godnian Coll. 



River, Alaska (M. McDonald: 

 Hvnshaw Coll.). 

 2. Fort Yukon, iHtli Juuo (,/'. Z«(V.;/ii/r<: Crowley Bequest. 

 Smiths. Inst.). 



1. Fort Simpson, Arctic America, June. B. R. Ross, Esq. [P.]- 



2. Anderson River, Arctic America, Salvin-Godman Coll. 



5th J uly {B. MacFarlane: Smiths. 

 Inst.). 

 1. Carlton, Saskatchewan. 25tli Mav Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 {T. W. Blakiston). 



Genus HIEROFALCO, Cav. 



The eggs of the Jer-Falcons are usually broad ovals, but frequently 

 they are of an elliptical shape, short and somewhat spheroidal. 

 The shell is slightly rough in texture and has scarcely auy gloss. 



The eggs of the Jer-Falcons are quite inseparable from each other. 

 Seebohmthus describes them : — "The ground-colour is creamy white, 

 but usually the markings entirely conceal it from view. They are 

 closely freckled and spotted with reddish brown and brick-red. 

 Many eggs closely resemble the eggs of the Hobby ; others approxi- 

 mate more nearly to certain varieties of the Peregrine. In a large 

 scries in my collection, however, I do not find that the eggs are ever 

 so dark as those of some other British Falcons, and the markings are 

 very evenly dispersed, sometimes becoming confluent, at other times 

 uniformly distributed over the entire surface. Some specimens 

 have the markings sniootlily and evenly laid on, giving them the 

 aj)[iearanco of ground-colour, which is marbled and more intensified 

 here and there. Another beautiful variety is mottled all over with 



VOL. II. X 



