CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 285 
and lays its eggs about 15th May. I have seen the young able to 
iyi july. \(ivev. "C. J'7 Young.) Breeds in Toronto, Ont., and 
around the city, as well as in the Parry Sound district. (/. H. 
Fleming.) This bird seems to prefer holes in trees, the old nests 
of the flicker are probably the ones used. The eggs, five in number, 
are of a buff or pale yellowish brown, with splashes of dark brown 
all over, but most numerous at the greater end. About the first 
week in May, the nest may be looked for in the neighbourbood of 
Ottawa. (G. R. White.) Breeds always in cavities in trees— 
eggs, 4-6. (W. E. Saunders.) Breeds sparingly on islands in the 
St. John river and on large burnt areas in New Brunswick. Fora 
number of years a pair nested in a spire of a church entering at a 
hole made by Colaptes auratus. (W.H. Moore.) 
This species was first seen in 1892 at Indian Head, Sask., on 16th 
April, and was common by the 24th. It breeds in the woods and 
in trees in the stream valleys. A nest was found in an oid flicker’s 
nest in a poplar, June 5th; it contained five eggs. In April, 1894, 
it began to breed on the 17th in holes in poplars. On the 27th 
May, 1895, a nest was discovered in a flicker’s hole in a box elder 
tree on Old Wives’ creek, Sask. The female sat so close that she 
had to be shoved with a stick before she would move. The nest 
contained five eggs of a deep cinnamon buff, but becoming brown 
or cinnamon at the larger end. This species is also common on 
Vancouver island, always breeding in holes. It feeds upon mice, 
young birds, grasshoppers and other insects and on one occasion 
I saw one catch a small snake. I have seen nests from sixty to 
seventy feet above the ground. (Spreadborough.) It breeds in 
the interior at least as far north as Fort Rae, Great Slave lake, 
in lat. 62°.N. (Bendire, Vol. I., 309.) 
360a, Desert Sparrow Hawk. 
Falco sparvertus phalena (LESSON) NELSON. 1902. 
Near the mouth of Milk river, Montana, June 30th, 1874, collected 
by Dr. Coues. (Mearns in The Auk, Vol. IX., 266.) Abundant 
resident; Mr. Brewster informs me that my Chilliwack specimens 
of sparverius belong to this form. It is a permanent resident 
throughout the southern part of British Columbia; a few remain at 
Lake Okanagan all winter. (Bvooks.) Common in woods along 
