84 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo G7. 



Flig-ht. 



Strong-, easy, straight-away flight ; swift, clashing descent 

 for prey. It is doubtful if any other bird of prey is its equal 

 in flight. 



Food. 

 Birds of various kinds, up to the size of a meadowlark ; 

 rabbits, rodents of various sorts. They seem to pre.fer bird 

 flesh, but during" a scarcity of such diet may be driven to any 

 of the smaller animals. 



Nest. 



On the ledg'es of cliffs or precipices, rarely in open nests 

 in trees. The ledge nests seem to be merely detritus and 

 food leavings. Open nests in trees must necessarily be com- 

 posed of twigs or weeds or other coarse material, whether 

 placed there by bird or simply utilized after the departure 

 of the original builder. 



Eggs. 



Three to five. The nesting time varies from late March in 

 its southern range to early June northward. The eggs are 

 on the average lighter in color than the eggs of any other 

 Falcon except the Sparrow Hawk. The ground color is 

 creamy white, rarely so completely overlaid as to be obscured. 

 The markings are blotches and spots of different shades of 

 reddish brown, tawny, and chocolate. The eggs average 5-3 

 X 41.5. (Bendire). 



Next to the Sparrow Hawk this is the commonest of the 

 hawks of the western regions. Without doubt it is harmful, 

 at times markedly so, but there is little doubt that it is also 

 beneficial to a considerable degree. It has been known to 

 kill Sharp-tailed Grouse. It seems to decidedly prefer the 

 flesh of birds. 



