186 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



355. Falco mexicanus SCHLEG. [413.] 



Prairie Falcon.. 



Hab. Western United States, from the Eastern border ^of the Plains to the Pacific Ocean. South 

 into Mexico. Casual to Illinois. 



The American Lanner or Prairie Falcon is an abundant species 

 throughout the open country of Western United States. It is the rep- 

 resentative of the two Lanners of the Old World. This Falcon is 

 said to possess great strength and daring ; it attacks and overpowers 

 the great hares of the prairies, and other animals even larger and 

 heavier than itself. It is very common in Wyoming and Washington 

 Territories, Oregon and California. 



The Prairie Falcon nests usually on cliffs and ledges of rocks r 

 sometimes in cavities in trees. The composition of the nests is sticks 

 with a lining of grasses. In some of the rocky canons of Colorado 

 nests of this hawk have been found on the tops of those massive 

 sandstone columns that stand solitary and alone like huge chimneys. 



The eggs are two to five in number. Three sets of the eggs 

 of this species are in the cabinet of J. Parker Norris. One 

 of five eggs, collected by Walter E. Bryant, near Mt. Dia- 

 blo, California, exhibit the following dimensions : 2.00 x 1.56, 1.99 

 xi. 56, 1.98x1.59, 2.11x1.57, 1.93x1.56. These were laid upon the 

 sand in a cavity in a large boulder. They are handsome eggs, creamy 

 ground color, almost wholly obscured with specks, spots and cloudings 

 of cinnamon and vinaceous-cinnamon. The second set is of two eggs 

 taken in Sweetwater county, Wyoming, May i, 1887 ; the nest was on a 

 rocky mound, along the Big Sandy River. The eggs are quite different 

 from each other in appearance ; in one the ground color is cinnamon, 

 sprinkled all over with Mars brown; size, 2.13x1.66. The other has 

 a ground color of russet, sprinkled all over with burnt umber ; size, 

 2. 14 x 1.68. The third set consists of three eggs. They were collected 

 May 6, 1888, in Sweetwater county, Wyoming. The nest was on a 

 rock on the bank of the Big Sandy River. The ground color varies 

 from a deep cream to a hazel, and it is almost wholly obscured with 

 cinnamon, rufous and light chestnut. They measure 2.28x1.68; 2.10 

 xi. 64; 2.20x1.67. 



356. Falco peregrinus anatum (BONAP.) [414.] 



Duck Hawk. 



Hab. Whole of North America. 



The Peregrine Falcon, Great-footed Hawk, or Wandering Falcon, 

 as this species is variously called, is distributed throughout North 

 America at large, but it can hardly be considered common anywhere. 

 The Duck Hawk breeds as far south as latitude 36, and usually in 



