130 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



Many naturalists of the present day consider the American Fal- 

 con to be a variety of the European bird. In this I think they are 

 wrong, as the differences which have been pointed out as distin- 

 guishing characters are very slight, and vary in specimens from 

 different localities. It is claimed that the main point of difference 

 between them is the striped breast of the European bird, which is 

 g-c;icra//y wanting in the American specimens; but American speci- 

 mens are sometimes striped, and I cannot but agree with Mr. Dresser 

 in considering the American and European bird as insej^arable. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. I. pi. 20. 



FALCO SPARVERIUS. {Linn.) 

 Sparrow Falcon. 



Adult Male. — Crown, ashy blue, sometimes replaced b}' chest- 

 nut in the centre; a maxillary and auricular black stripe; back, 

 brown, sometimes spotted with black on the lower part; wing-coverts, 

 bluish ash ; tail, reddish brown, with a band of black tipped with 

 white, sometimes showing several black bands; below, w'hite, show- 

 ing reddish brown on the breast and belly. 



Adult Female. — Upper parts, lighter than in the male, barred 

 with dull black ; under parts, dull yellowish white, paler than in the 

 male; streaked; otherwise similar. 



Length 10, wing 7, tail 4.75. 



