59 



56. Faico sparverius (Linn.). 

 SPARROW HAWK. 



Crown, ashy-blue, usually with a chestnut patch; seven black spots aboutK 

 the head; black, chestnut, with black bars in the female; tail, chestnut 

 with black bars, and in the male, with outer feathers and tips, white; 

 beneath buffy, streaked with brown in the female. Length, 10-11 inches. 



Common summer resident. Earliest arrival, March 18 ; 

 departs in October. Raises 1 brood. Eggs 3-7, reddish, 

 spotted with brown. Nest in holes in trees. Eggs laid first 

 of June. Feeds on insects, mice, etc. Beneficial. Note, a 

 high shrill scream often repeated, which Chapman writes 

 ' ' hilly -killy-killy -hilly. '^ 



57. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmel.). 

 FISH HAWK, OSPREY. 



Above, dark brown, the feathers edged with white; head, neck and 

 beneath, white; crown and breast streaked with blackish or brown. 

 Length, 23-24 inches. 



Common spring visitor in Hadley and near the Connecticut 

 river, but rare in Amherst. Less common in the fall. Feeds 

 on fish entirely. Note, a whistling scream. 



58. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). 

 LONG-EARED OWL. 



Varied everywhere with black and tawny; no white on throat. Length, 

 14-16 inches . 



Uncommon resident. Raises 1 brood. Eggs 5, white. Nest 

 in an old crow's or hawk's nest, or in a hollow tree. Eggs laid 

 in May. Feeds on mice chiefly. Beneficial. 



59. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.). 

 SHORT-EARED OWL. 



Varied everywhere with brown, white and tawny. Length, 15 inches. 



Very rare in Amherst, but seems to be common as a winter 

 visitor near Northampton, at least in some years. 



