Il8 FALCONID^ : HAWKS. 



records it from Saybrook, Ct., "as very common in 

 the migrations." Mr. Allen says for Massachusetts: 

 "rather rare, chiefly occurring in spring, fall, and win- 

 ter ; " and Mr. Merriam says : " that in Connecticut, it 

 is not uncommon in spring and fall, and has been ob- 

 served in May, June, and July, with the inference of its 

 breeding in that state." 



There has been so much doubt and uncertainty regard- 

 ing the eggs of this Falcon, that we are the more pleased 

 to offer an unquestionable description, derived from ex- 

 amination of specimens in the Smithsonian. The size 

 varies from 1.50 by 1.30 to 1.80 by 1.30 — figures also 

 indicating the range of variation in shape, some being 

 subspherical, others elongate-oval. Coloration ranges 

 from a nearly uniform deep rich brown (chestnut or 

 burnt sienna), to whitish or white only, marked with a 

 few indistinct dots of dull grayish or drab. Such ex- 

 tremes are connected by every degree ; a yellowish-brown 

 ground-color, irregularly splashed with rich ruddy brown, 

 is the usual style. The markings may be very evenly 

 distributed, or mostly gathered in a wreath around one 

 or the other end, or even both ends. 



RUSTY-CROWNED FALCON: SPARROW 

 HAWK. 



Falco sparverius Z. 



Chars. Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut patch, sometimes small 

 or altogether wanting, sometimes occupying nearly all the crown ; 

 conspicuous black maxillary and auricular patches, which with 

 three others around the nape make seven black places in all, 

 but a part of them often obscure or wanting; back cinnamon 

 brown, in the male with a few black spots or none, in the female 



