AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 



217 



of Northern Alaska, ranging during migrations tf) the barren coasts 

 of Behring Sea and the Arctic. 



"On the 6th of October, 1878, I saw one of these birds dart down 

 and strike its talons into the back of a Burgomaster Gull as the 

 latter was flying over the sea. After holding on for a moment, the 

 gull continuing its flight unimpeded, the falcon let go, and rising 

 almost directly up for thirty or forty yards went clear off", apparently 

 not desirous of renewing the attack." Although the Pigeon Hawk 

 is a true falcon and consumes a great many small birds of different 

 sorts, Dr. Fisher believes it kills sufiicient injurious insects and 

 mammals to balance the account, and has accordingly placed it in 

 Class e. In Ontario it is never sufficiently numerous to do serious 

 injury. 



Subgenus TINNUNCULUS Vieillot. 

 FALCO SPARVERIUS Lixx. 



lo4. American Sparrow Hawk. (360) 



Tarsus and quills, as in ro/in»harii(.s: crown, asliy-l)lue, 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 



