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 
generally 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 inseparable. 
Pissed BdsssNeAL Vol. il. ply. 
FALCO SPARVERIUS. (Linn.) 
SPARROW FALCON. 
Adult Male.— Crown, ashy blue, sometimes replaced by 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, white, 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. 
