206 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 69. 



Nest. 

 The nesting- site is as variable as the surroundings will al- 

 low ; sometimes the structure is placed in a yucca or cactus 10 

 or 15 feet from the ground, while at other times it may be 

 found in a mesquit or other bush a few feet above the surface 

 of the plain. The nest is composed of small twigs and plant 

 stalks and usually has a lining of grass. When the abandoned 

 nests of other birds are available they are used. (Fisher). 



Apparently three in number, about 45 by 35 mm. Ground 

 color a dirty yellowish white, thickly sprinkled with reddish 

 and chestnut brown blotches and spots of various sizes, almost 

 completely obscuring" the ground color. There is said to be 

 great variation in the markings of the eggs. Eggs are depos- 

 ited from late Alarch until the middle of May. 



FALCO SPARVERIUS (Linnj. 

 Sparrow Hawk. 



WHiether or not one questions the validity of the numerous 

 subspecies of this falcon the scope of this paper makes it un- 

 necessary to describe more than the type form. The para- 

 graph on the geographical distribution covers the whole group 

 without special reference to any of the several color phases 

 which are given subspecific rank. 



Geographical Distribution. 

 Breeds from Florida, the Gulf Coast, and Durango, Mexico, 

 north to Newfoundland and Alaska, and winters south to Costa 

 Rica. (Cooke). 



Aleasurements. 

 Extent 53 to 50 ctms. Male, length 24.56, wing 18.70. tail 

 3 2.40, culmen 1.2T, tarsus 3.06, middle toe 2.41. 



Female, length 26.64. wing lit. or. tail 12.S2. culmen 1.32. 

 tarsus 3.22. middle toe 2.52. 



Diagnostic ^larks. 

 Black markings of head (sec photograph), red up])erparts, 

 call, hovering while feeding over meadows, small size. 



