—47— 



on Swan Lake near its head, by Mr. Leffingwell, who took a 

 fine specimen there during our stay at the Station in the latter 

 part of August. His accurate knowledge of this species war- 

 rants the including of the bald eagle in this list upon his identi- 

 fication. 



360 a. DESERT SPARROW HAWK, Falco sparverious de- 



serticolus Mearns. 



This species did not appear to be as common near Sin-yale- 

 a-min Lake as elsewhere in its usual range. We noted it oc- 

 casionally in our daily lists. In our ascent of Mt. Sin-yale-a- 

 min, this little falcon was seen at an altitude of 7,700 feet, 

 pursued by five or six pine siskins. It was found regularly 

 on the hillsides, though not abundantly, but was common every- 

 where over the prairies of the Reservation. 



The sparrow hawk was not uncommon in the vicinity of 

 Lake McDonald. It was noted most frequently near the outlet 

 of the lake, and along the cliff on the eastern shore. No speci- 

 mens were taken here. A small butte near our camp at Crow 

 Creek was used as a sort of watch tower by the sparrow hawks, 

 and generally several would be flushed when we climbed to its 

 rocky summit. 



Abundant on the ranches near Flathead Lake, preferring 

 the edges of the woods. It resorts to rail fences, flying from 

 one station to another ahead of the observer; or from a watch 

 tower in the top of isolated trees in the meadows it scans the 

 subjacent ground for venturesome mice, grasshoppers, crickets, 

 and similar prey. 



364. AMERICAN OSPREY, Pandion haliaehis carolinensis 



(Gmel.) 



The osprey was noted only occasionally in our daily lists 

 at Sin-yale-a-min Lake. It is likely that a pair of ospreys in- 

 habited the ravine leading to the little pond, for the speci- 

 mens we noted were generally seen in that locality. The lake 

 did not appear to be frequented to any extent by the osprey, 

 though it certainly afforded a generous supply of fish, which 

 forms almost the entire bill of fare of this species. The inlet 

 and outlet of the lake, which are stocked abundantly with 

 trout, doubtless offer easier larders than the deeper waters of 

 the lake. 



