FALCONID JS — THE FALCOXS. 291 



Mr. Jackson of West Chester, Penn., gives March 24 the earliest, and April 

 15 the latest, in which he has met with its fresh eaas. 



Mr. Eidgway obtained two eggs of this Hawk at JMount Carmel, 111., on 

 the 6th of March, the nest having been commenced early in February. It 

 was placed on the summit of a black -gum tree {Nyssa multifiora), and rested 

 upon tlie topmost branches, about ninety feet from the ground. It was lined 

 with corn-husks, gathered from a field close by. Tlie eggs (No. 12,740, S. I. 

 Collection) measure, respectively, 2.45 and 2.50 in length, by 1.95 and 2.00 

 in breadth. Their color is plain bluish-white, entirely free from markings 

 of any kind. 



In California, the var. calurus is stated to be common in all parts of the 

 State not destitute of trees, and to reside permanently wherever found, pair- 

 ing only during the breeding-season. They prey upon hares and other 

 small quadrupeds, upon smaller birds, and upon reptiles. Dr. Cooper 

 states that at times, when food is plenty, they become excessively fat. They 

 are known to occasionally seize a fowl from the farm-yard. During the 

 middle of the day, in tlie cold weather, they are said to soar very high in 

 the air, and occasionally to disappear also in the manner of their eastern 

 relatives, the Butco borealis. They are said to be abundant and resident 

 species in Washington Territory, having been found by Dr. Suckley quite 

 numerous at Puget Sound, but scarcer on the Upper Columbia, east of the 

 Cascade Mountains. It seems to be more daring than is common with the 

 borealis, for Dr. Suckley states that while he was stationed at Fort Steila- 

 coom he noticed that the poultry-yards were as much harassed by this 

 Hawk as by the Goshawk, not hesitating to seize poultry from the very 

 doors of the dwelling-houses. 



Dr. Kennerly states that this Hawk was met with by him between the 

 coast of Texas at Indianola, and the Ptio Grande at El Paso del Norte. It 

 seemed to feed indifferently upon reptiles, particularly lizards, and the 

 smaller quadrupeds and birds. 



Dr. Cooper states that the nests of this species are numerous in the val- 

 leys and on the lower mountains of California. They are generally built in 

 the forks of a sycamore or other large trees, and formed of twigs pretty 

 finely constructed, and with a very distinct cavity. Eggs, taken by Dr. 

 Cooper near San Diego, were laid about the 20th of March, and were three 

 in number. They measured 2.28 by 1.76 inches, were of a dull yellowish- 

 white, with faint brown spots. While Dr. Cooper was climbing to the nest, 

 the old birds darted towards him from a neighboring bluff, but when within 

 a few feet of his head they turned away and did not attempt to make an 

 assault. 



Two eggs belonging to the variety calurus were obtained by ]\Ir. E. Samuels 

 near Petaluma, Cal., in 1856; measure 2.31 inches in length by 1.87 in 

 breadth. The shape of one egg is an almost exact ovoid, slightly tending to 

 a spheroid, one end being hardly perceptibly larger than the other. Its 



