BIRDS OF KANSAS. 255 



with rufous bars much exceeding the white ones in width; the whole maculate 

 region with the shaft of each feather finely blackish. Aual region scarcely 

 varied; lower tail coverts immaculate pure white. Lining of the wing white, 

 witli rather sparse cordate, or cuneate, small blackish spots; axillars barred 

 about equally with pinkish rufous and white. Fifth quill longest; fourth but 

 little shorter; third equal to sixth; second slightly shorter than seventh. Tail 

 perfectly square. Adult female: Scarcely different from male. Above, rather 

 pale slaty; the darker shaft streaks rather more distinct than in the male, al- 

 though they are not conspicuous. Beneath with the rufous bars rather broader, 

 the dark shaft streaks less distinct; tibiae about equally barred with pinkish ru- 

 fous and white. Fourth and fifth quills equal and longest; third equal to sixth; 

 second equal to seventh; first three inches shorter than longest. Young male: 

 Above, umber brown; feathers of the head above edged laterally with dull light 

 ferruginous; those of the back, rump, the upper tail coverts, scapulars and wing 

 coverts bordered with the same; scapulars and rump showing large, partially 

 exposed, roundish spots of pure white. Tail as in adult. Sides of the head 

 and neck strongly streaked, a broad lighter supraloral stripe apparent. Beneath 

 white, with a slight ochraceous tinge; cheeks, throat and jugulum with fine 

 narrow streaks of dusky brown; breast,,sides and abdomen with broader longi- 

 tudinal stripes of clear umber (less slaty than the back), each with a darker 

 shaft line; on the flanks the stripes are more oval; tibia? more dingy, markings 

 fainter and somewhat transverse; anal region and lower tail coverts immaculate 

 white. Young female: Similar in general appearance to the young male. Mark- 

 Ings beneath broader, and slightly sagittate in form, becoming more transverse 

 on the flanks; paler and more reddish than in the young male; tibia? with brown- 

 ish rufous prevailing, this in form of broad transverse spots." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 11.00 22.00 6.75 5.50 1.90 .40 .25 



Female... 13.50 25.50 8.50 6.75 2.00 .45 .25 



Iris yellow; bill horn blue; cere greenish yellow; legs and 

 feet yellow; claws black. 



This spirited little Hawk is one of the best known, and one 

 of the most destructive birds of the family. On the wing, in 

 the chase, it is swift as an arrow, and strikes its prey readily in 

 the air, upon the ground, or the perch, often dashing into a 

 thicket and capturing little birds in their supposed safe retreats. 

 They are especially destructive to the sparrows that gather late 

 in the fall and winter in flocks about the thickets and hedges, 

 apparently killing not only to satisfy hunger, but for pure "cus- 

 sedness." The little fellows are as brave as they are dashing, 

 often striking and killing birds much larger than themselves. 

 They also feed upon mice and other small quadrupeds, lizards 

 and insects; but the killing of small birds appears to be their 



