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540 THE DESERT SPARROW HAWK. 
length: 8.75-10.50 (222.3-266.7) ; av. of nine specimens: wing 7.24 (183.9) ; tail 
4.63 (117.6); bill .50 (12.7). Adult female, length: 9.00-12.00 (228.6-304.8) ; 
av. of eight specimens; wing 7.50 (190.5); tail 5.06 (128.5); bill .52 (13.2). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size, but appearing larger. The black markings 
about head, and rufous of upperparts distinctive. 
Nesting.—Nest: in hollow trees, often in deserted Woodpecker holes or in 
crannies of cliffs. Eggs: 4-6, sometimes 7, creamy, buffy, or vinaceous, sprinkled 
and spotted with deeper shades of the ground color, or darker reddish browns. 
Av. size, 1.38% 1.14 (35.1% 29). Season: May-June; one brood. 
General Range.—North America east to the Rocky Mountains, and from 
Great Slave Lake south to northern South America. Also Pacific Coast slope. 
Range in Washington.—West-side, probably resident only (see below). 
Authorities.—? Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. [X., 1858, 14. Not previously 
published. Joseph Grinnell in epist., 1906. C&S. L'(?). 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) B. C. 
MR. JOSEPH GRINNELL, the well-known ornithologist of Berkeley, 
pronounces certain Tacoma specimens submitted by Mr. Bowles true 
sparverius. If this surmise be correct it furnishes another example of that 
“resaturation” of bleached plumage, which we suspect takes place in the case 
of several desert races invading this region of heavy rainfall. The only 
wonder is that the Sparrow Hawks of Puget Sound are usually so light- 
colored, and so out of harmony with their surroundings. It may be that this 
tendency to darker coloring is confined to those few examples which winter 
here; but of this we have no proof as yet. 
No. 219. 
DESERT SPARROW HAWK. 
A. O. U. No. 360a. Falco sparverius phaleena (Lesson). 
Synonyms.—WeEstTERN Sparrow Hawk. Mouse Hawk. Prarie Hawk. 
GraAssHorrer HAWK. 
Description.—Similar to F. sparverius but averaging larger with relatively 
longer tail; paler with more rufous and somewhat more extensive crown-patch ; 
black bars on inner webs of wing-quills not complete; black bars of upperparts 
in female narrower and those of tail often incomplete. 
Recognition Marks.—<s in preceding; paler. 
Nesting.—Nest: in old Flicker hole or natural cavity of tree or in cranny of 
cliff. Eggs: 4-6, creamy buff, heavily or lightly sprinkled, or more rarely 
blotched, with warm cinnamon. Av. size, 1.35% 1.13. (34.3 x 28.7). Season: 
May ; time according to altitude; one brood. 
General Range.—\Vestern United States and British Columbia (except 
