1892. 



MearNs 0)1 the American Sparro-v Hawks. 26^ 



a large rufou.s crown patch, with indications of plumbeous central streaks 

 to some of the feathers, the transverse barring of the back and scapulars 

 as usual in adults, and scarcely any rusty or whitish edges to the feathers 

 of crown, rump and coverts, but with white tips to the wing quills, and 

 the terminal band of tail pale rusty, mixed with gray on the middle pair 

 of feathers. The pectoral region is moderately tinged with ochraeeous, 

 the dusky linear spots extending forward to the neck. Crissum pale 

 cream-bufF. Nos. 51,649, and 51,664, September 14 and 19, differ from 

 the last in being nearly white below, with much more than the average 

 amount of barring on the anterior portion of the back; otherwise they are 

 nearly the same. Nos. 51,648 and 51,650 ^/5 belong to the same brood, 

 and were taken, together with theii parents, on September 15. One is 

 white below, and the other strongly tinged with ochraceous buff. The 

 feathers of the upper surface, including wing-coverts, are edged witii 

 rusty white, and the back and scapulars have fewer black bars than in the 

 male parent. All have liberal patches of rufous on the vertex, except No. 

 51,645, taken September 11, 1S84, which is moulting, and losing the 

 linear streaks on the front of the chest where the feathers are being re- 

 placed by the plain ochraceous buff of the winter plumage. This moult 

 is usually' accomplished during October, November males appearing in 

 the aiiult plumage of winter. A j'oung male (No. 92,469, Smiths, coll.') 

 from Yreka (Shasta Valley), northern California, August 18, 1883, Chas. 

 H. Townsend, has the upper surface heavily banded with black from the 

 nape to the tips of the scapulars, with a line of black spots on the outer 

 webs of (botti webs of central) tail-feathers, and black shaft-streaks to the 

 rusty crown. 



YoiiHg female (Am. Mus. No. 51,644, Fort Vertie, Arizona, July iS, 

 1S84). — -Above darker, more vinaceous, with heavier transverse bars on 

 back and tail, and dusky shaft-streaks to the feathers of the rusty crown 

 patch. Below, with the streaks broader and less yellowish than in adults. 



Measiireinei/ts.—i\\era.gt of 13 adult males from Fort Verde, Arizona : 

 length 269.0; alar expanse, 570.0; wing, 1S9.0: tail, 135.0; chord of cul- 

 men, 12.0; width of bill at base, lo.o; tarsus, 36.5; middle toe, 23.6. 

 Average of 11 adult females from Fort Verde, Arizona: length, 276.0; 

 alar expanse, 601.0; wing, 196.0; tail, 136.0; chord ofculnien, 12.5; width 

 of bill at base, 10.3; tarsus, 36.4; middle toe, 24.0 mm. 



The largest examples of this race come from California. An old male, 

 taken at Murphy's by L. Belding, measures as follows : wing, 20i.o; tail, 

 140.0; cliord of culmen 12.2; width of bill at base, 11. o; tarsus, 35.0; 

 middle toe, 25.0 mm. An adult female fiom the same place measures: 

 wing, 214.0; tail, 155.0; chord ofculmen, 1 1 .8 ; width of bill at base, 10.3; 

 tarsus, 36.0; middle toe. 23.5 mm. 



Remarks. — Three downy young about :i week old were 

 taken by Mr. E. W. Nelson, at Fort Lowell, Arizona, May 34, 

 18S4. They are scantily clothed with loose, white down. 

 34 



