430 Ferry, Notes from Soulliern Illinois. [oct^ 



cons but they were very shy and we could not get near enough to identify 

 them, much less shoot them. 



Both this species and the Duck Hawk have been recorded, as taken and 

 found breeding, at various points not far distant, and it is fair to assume 

 that both species occur here on migration and a few may breed here. Prob- 

 ably they are more common along the banks of the Saskatchewan River 

 where they can find suitable nesting sites. 



75. Falco richardsonii. Richardson's Merlin. — Rare. I shot an 

 adult male near Hay Creek on June 1, 1905, and Dr. Bishop and Dr. Dwight 

 secured an adult female on July 17, 1906, about 15 miles north of Maple 

 Creek. Two or three others, supposed to be this species, were seen else- 

 where. Prof. Macoun gives several records of its breeding in this region. 



76. Falco sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk. — Common in the 

 timber along the creeks in 1905, but less common in 1906. We found 

 6 nests in 1905 and only one in 1906. Nests with eggs were found on May 

 30 and June 5 and 14, 1905, and on June 30, 1906. The nests were mostly 

 in natural cavities in the box elders but some of them were in old Flickers' 

 holes. Both sexes incubate. 



The birds that we collected were all in worn breeding plumage and were 

 referable to phaloena, but I doubt if this subspecies is worthy of recognition. 



(To be concluded.) 



FURTHER NOTES FROM EXTREME SOUTHERN 

 ILLINOIS. 



BY JOHN F. FERRY. 



The extreme southern end of Illinois was visited by the writer 

 from August 1.0-24 inclusive to carry on an ornithological investi- 

 gation for the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. The 

 region studied is included in the Austroriparian Faunal Area of 

 Dr. Merriam. The heat and humidity are extreme and a corre- 

 sponding luxuriance of vegetation is the result. 1 The birds were 

 found in greatest abundance in the deep woods bordering Cypress 

 Swamps. Dense thickets bordering roads and fields were also 

 favorite haunts, though during the intense heat of mid-day these 

 were deserted for the cooler shade of the woods. Generally speak- 



1 For list of characteristic trees and shrubs of this region see Auk, Vol, XXIV, July 

 1907, p. 285. 



