368 LAND-BIRDS. 



most expert hunter. One of the specimens brought me was 

 shot for a Pigeon, and the mistake was not discovered until 

 the bird was picked up. It is from this striking singularity 

 that I suppose it derives its name." 



d. The notes of the Pigeon Hawk, heard chiefly in 

 spring, are quite characteristic, but, nevertheless, are not 

 easily described. In fact, it is almost or wholly impossible 

 to know the cry of our Hawks, unless learned directly from 

 nature. 



D. SPARVERIUS. (American) Sparrow Hawk. Amer- 

 ican Kestrel. In New England, a summer resident, locally 

 distributed.* 



a. About eleven inches long. Crown, ashy blue, usually 

 with a chestnut patch of varying size. Head, otherwise white, 

 with generally seven large black markings, including one on 

 the" nape. Tail, often surrounded by white, and broadly (sub-) 

 tipped with black. Primaries, etc., black, with imperfect 

 white bars. Otherwise : $ , brown above, becoming chest- 

 nut on the tail, nearly everywhere black-barred. Beneath, 

 white; breast, (often buffy or reddish, and) streaked with 

 black (or dark brown). $ , smaller, and with few or no 

 black bars or streaks. Wing-coverts, ashy blue (sometimes 

 spotted with black). 



b. The eggs are generally deposited in the hollow of a tree, 

 often of one rather isolated, a very rare circumstance in 

 the case of other Hawks. The eggs, four or five in number, or 

 even more, are laid in Massachusetts about the middle of May. 

 Two, taken from my cabinet, are fair specimens. One meas- 

 ures 1.35 X 1.20 of an inch, and is very light brown, with 

 small blotches of reddish " Vandyke." The other measures 

 1.35 X 1.20 of an inch, is somewhat spherical, and is finely 



* Although the Sparrow Hawk in considerable numbers. It is occa- 

 breeds throughout most of New Eng- sionally seen in Massachusetts and 

 land, it is very unevenly distributed in Connecticut in midwinter. Near Bos- 

 summer, being very rare or wholly ab- ton it apparently now breeds much 

 sent at some localities, rather common more commonly than was the case at 

 at others. It occurs nearly every- the time when Mr. Minot's observa- 

 where during the migrations, and often tions were made. W. B. 



