406 Sherman, Nest Life of the Sparrow Hawk. LJuly 



3 mm. in diameter and there is little difference in size between 

 the small intestine and the rectum. The intestinal loops are 

 naturally few and simply arranged as in many Passerine birds; 

 there is nothing distinctive in their arrangement. 



Examination of the sternum revealed the interesting fact that 

 it is like that of any finch, the only peculiarity being in the manu- 

 brium which is very large with the two arms or divisions long and 

 widely spreading. There is no trace of an "osseous bridge" from 

 the anterior margin of the sternum to the manubrium such as occurs 

 in Piranga, nor is there any bony roof, either with or without for- 

 amina, covering a space back of the anterior margin, such as occurs 

 in Saltator, Pipilo et al. There are no differences to be seen be- 

 tween the sternum of the male in Spindalis and that of the female. 

 The absence of the "osseous bridge" in this genus indicates either 

 that its presence is not characteristic of all tanagers or else that 

 Spindalis is not a tanager. 



THE NEST LIFE OF THE SPARROW HAWK. 



BY ALTHEA R. SHERMAN. 



The nesting of a species new to our place always is an event of 

 great interest, and doubly so when the birds are of the hole-nesting 

 sort, whose home life at very close range has never been exhibited 

 (so far as is known) to mortal eye; but when the species is one of 

 the Raptores interest heightens and feelings become indescribably 

 mixed; there is the anxiety to watch the nest life mingled with 

 fear for our harmless, little feathered friends, that trustingly have 

 returned to their summer home; hence on April 4, 1912, it was with 

 a perturbed mind that a pair of Sparrow Hawks (Falco sparverius 

 sparverius) that had arrived the day before, were watched while 

 they inspected the nest box occupied by Screech Owls two years 

 previously. 



Never before in our immediate neighborhood — National, Iowa— 



