86 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 67. 



Diagnostic Marks. 



These are small, very dark hawks, heavily streaked with 

 umber brown on the under parts, of swift flight, and sharply 

 pointed wings which seem to reach forward to g'rasp the air. 



Plumage,. 



Pigeon Hawk : Adult male ; above dark slaty blue, with 

 rusty edges and black shafts to the feathers, below whitish 

 tawny, heavily streaked with dark umber l:)rown which runs 

 into bars on the flanks, and into fine pencilings on the throat 

 and cheeks. Inner webs of the wing quills spotted or barred 

 with white, outer webs with traces of grayish. Tail with 

 four narrow white and four black bars, its tip white. 



Adiflt female and young male : above dark umber brown, 

 head with rusty edgings ; below darker than the adult male. 

 Wing spots and bars ochreous. 



Black Merlin : Distinctly darker in general coloration. 



Richardson's Merlin : Distinctly lighter in general color- 

 ation. Tail crossed with five blackish dusky and six bluish- 

 gray bands. ' 



Flight and Habits. 



In flight the swiftest of the small hawks. When perched 

 it sits erect and is alert, but seems less wary than most hawks. 

 At its nest it is courageous and a fierce fighter. 



Food. 

 Principally small birds, rarely mice and small squirrels. 



Voice. 

 "Tve-ah, ke-ah, ke-ah," often repeated. 



Nest. 

 In holes in trees, on cliffs, or in crotch of a tree. The nest 

 is a bulky affair of sticks with a lining of soft bark, long hairs, 

 dry grass, feathers, and moss. It sometimes fits an old crow 

 nest over. 



Eggs. 

 Four or five, varying greatly in form and markings, aver- 



