]^44 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Palco ^^salon) lithofalco (Gmelin). 



Var. coliiinbarius, Li>'Na:us. 



PIGEON HAWK; AMERICAN MERLIN. 



Falco eolumharius, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766, p. 128. — Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1789, p. 281. — 

 Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 44, 1790 ; Syn. I, 101, sp. 86 ; Supp. \, 27, 1802 ; Gen. Hist. I, 

 278, 1821. — Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 83, 1800. — Shaw. Zool. VII, 188, 1812. —Wils. 

 Am. Orn. pL xv, fig. 3, 1808. — Jard. (Wils.) Am. Orn. I, p. 254, 1808. —James. 

 (Wils.) Am. Orn. I, 61. — Brew. (Wils.) Am. Orn. I, 68-3, 1852. — Rich. Faun. Bor. 

 Am. II, 35, 1831. — AuD. Syn. B. A. p. 16, 1839 ; Orn. Biog. T, 466. — Bonap. Ann. 

 Lye. N. Y, II, 28 ; Isis, 1832, p. 1136 ; Eur. & N. Am. B. p. 4, 1838. — Nutt. Man. 

 I; 60, i833. — Cuv. Eeg. An. (ed. 2), I, 322, 1829. — Le.ss. Tr. Orn. p. 92, 1831.— 

 FoKST. Phil. Trans. LXII, 382, 1772. — Swains. CIa.ssif. B. II, p. 212, 1837.— 

 Jard. Ann. Nat. Hist. XVIII, 118. — Gosse, B. Jam. p. 17, 1847. — Sagra, 

 Hist. Nat. Cuba Ois. p. 23. — Wedderb. Jard. Cont. Orn. 1849, p. 81. — Hurdis, 

 Jard. Cont. Orn. 1850, p. 6. — De Kay, Zocil. N. Y. II, 15, ])1. iv, f. 9, 1844.— 

 GiiiAUD, B. Long I si. p. 17. — Blacklst. Ibis, III, 315. Tinnunculus eolumharius, 

 ViEiLL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, pi. xi, 1807 ; Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. XII, 104, 1819 ; Enc. 

 Meth. Ill, 1236, 1823. Hypotriorcliis eolumharius, Gray, List B. B. Mus. p. 55, 

 1844; Gen. B. fol. sp. 11, 1844. —Cass. B. Calif, k Tex. p. 90, 1854. — WooDH. 

 (Sitg.) Exp. Zuni & Colorad. p. 60, 1853. — Heerm. P. R. R. Rept. II, 31, 1855. — 

 Newb. P. R. Rept. VI, 74, 1857. — Cas.s. B. N. Am. p. 9, 1858. —Cooper & Suck. 

 P. R. R. Rept. XII, 1860, 142. — CouES, Pr. A. N. S. Phil. 1866, 6.— Brewer, 

 Oology, 12. Lithofaleo columbarius, Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 26, 1850. yEsal on eolum- 

 harius, Kaup, Monog. Falc. Cont. Orn. p. 54, 1850. — Gi;ay, Hand List, I, 21, 1869. 

 Falco obscurus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 281, 1789. — Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 44, 1790 ; Syn. 

 Supp. I, 38, 1802 ; Gen. Hist. I, 272, 1821. — Daud. Tr. Orn. II, p. 123, 1800. Falco 

 intermixtus, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, p. 141, 1800. — Lath. Gen. Hist. I, 136, 1821. F. 

 temerarius, AuD. B. Am. pis. Ixxv, xeii, 1831 ; Orn. Biog. I, 380, 1831. F. auduboni, 

 Blackw. Res. ZoiJl. 1840. Acciinlcr jx^hanbarius, Catesb. Carol. I, pi. iii, 1754. 



Sp. Char. Adult male. Above cinereous, varying in shade, but generally of a slaty- 

 bluish cast ; each feather with a distinct shaft-streak of black, these lines most conspicuous 

 on the head above. Tail with a very broad subterminal band of black, about one inch in 

 width ; there are indications of three other bands, their continuity and distinction vary- 

 ing with the individual, but generally quite conspicuous, and each about half the width of 

 the terminal one ; the subterminal black band is succeeded by a terminal one of white, 

 of about three-sixteenths of an inch in width, sometimes broader ; on the lateral feathers 

 the black bands are always conspicuous, being in form of transverse oblong spots, crossing 

 the shaft, but less extended on the outer web, which is often immaculate except at the 

 end, the broad terminal band always extending to the edge of the feather. Primaries 

 dusky-black, margined terminally more or less distinctly with whitish (sometimes fading 

 on the edge only) ; on the inner web is a series of about eight transverse oval spots of 

 white, and generally corresponding to these are indications of bluish-ashy spots on the 

 outer web. Beneath white, this purest on the throat, which is immacidate : there is 

 generally a more or less strong tinge of fulvous beneath, this always prevalent on the 

 tibiae, and on a distinct collar extending round the nape, interrupting the blue above ; 

 the tibife frequently incline to ochraceous-rufous. Lateral portions of the head with fine 

 streaks of dusky, these thickest on upper edge of the ear-coverts, leaving a distinct 

 whitish superciliary streak, those of opposite sides meeting on the forehead. Breast, 

 upper part of the abdomen, sides, and flanks, with longitudinal stripes of umber, each 

 with a .shaft-streak of black ; on the flanks their shape is modified, here taking the form 



