170 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



358. Richardson Merlin. Falco richardsoni. 



Range. Interior of North America from the Mississippi to the Rockies and 

 from Mexico to the Saskatchewan. 



This species is similar to the Pigeon Hawk, but 

 is paler both above and below, and the tail bars 

 are more numerous and white. Their nesting 

 habits are the same as those of the preceding 

 species, they either building in hollow trees, or 

 making a rude nest of sticks and twigs in the 

 tops of trees. The eggs have a creamy ground 

 and are sprinkled with dots and blotches of various 

 shades of brown. Size 1.60 x 1.23. The egg fig- 

 ured is one of a beautiful set of four in the collec- 

 tion of Mr. C. W. Crandall. Data. Calgary, 

 N. W. T., May 12, 1894. Nest in a natural cavity 

 of a black poplar, 22 feet from the ground. Bird 

 taken. Collector, J. E. Houseman. 



[Cream.] 



[358.1] Merlin. Falco regulus. 



This common European species was once accidentally taken in southern 

 Greenland. Their eggs are generally laid on the ground on cliffs or banks. 



359. Aplomado Falcon. Falco fusco-coerulescens. 



Range. Tropical America north to the Mex- 

 ican boundary of the United States. 



This handsome and strikingly marked 

 Falcon is found in limited numbers within 

 the United States, but south is common and 

 widely distributed. They nest at a low ele- 

 vation, in bushes or small trees, making 

 their rude nests of twigs, lined with a few 

 grasses. They lay three, and sometimes 

 four, eggs which have a creamy white ground 

 color, tinely dotted with cinnamon, and 

 with heavy blotches of brown. Size 1.75 

 x 1.30. 



[Buff.] 



[359.1] Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus. 



[Reddish buff.] 



Range. Whole of Europe; accidental on the 

 coast of Massachusetts. 



This species is very similar in size and colora- 

 tion to the American Sparrow Hawk. They are 

 much more abundant than the Sparrow Hawk is 

 in this country and frequently nest about houses, 

 in hollow trees, on rafters of barns, or on ledges 

 and embankments. Their eggs are of a reddish 

 buff color, speckled and blotched with reddish 

 brown, they being much darker than those of the 

 American Sparrow Hawk. 



