BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 



Distinguishing features: Head, neck, and tail white; other parts dark 

 grayish brown; length 30-45 inches. The bald eagle can be distinguished 

 from the golden eagle in any plumage by the tarsus lacking feathers all 

 around its lower third, just above the bases of the toes. 



356. DUCK HAWK. Falco peregrinus anatum. 



The duck hawk occurs in Dr. J. A. Allen's list, being "seen but once 

 or twice, near the Great Bend of the Musselshell." I have seen it but once 

 in this locality to identify it, on May 7, 1900, when I observed it flying over 

 Big Spring Creek. Having no gun, I followed it about a quarter of a mile, 

 hoping to get a closer view, and found it a-perch of a rocky ledge near a 

 road, high upon the bluff. Seeing me, it arose with a shrill cry and came 

 toward me as if to attack me, but turned when part way and flapped away 

 up an adjacent coulee. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts blackish brown, top of head 

 darker; upper part of breast dull yellowish white; lower parts white; 

 length 16-20 inches. 



357. PIGEON HAWK. Falco columbarius. 



My records contain but one note regarding the occurrence of the 

 pigeon hawk in this locality, though the lack is largely due to the fact that 

 I have little opportunity of collecting at the time when this hawk might 

 be expected to be most noticeable. One day in October, 1902, a fine speci- 

 men was brought to me, which had been wounded and was captured on 

 Big Spring Creek. The skin is now in the collection of the Fergus County 

 high school. 



Dr. McChesney reports that F. columbarius was seen several times 

 along the Yellowstone, above Ft. Keogh, and was again met with August 

 27 in a spur of the Big Horn Mountains in considerable numbers. Dr. J. 

 A. Allen states that this species was seen at distant intervals on the Yel- 

 lowstone and Heart Rivers, in September. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts bluish gray; lower parts dull 

 yellowish-white, striped with brown; tail crossed by four black bands; 

 length 10-13 inches. 



358. RICHARDSON'S MERLIN. Falco richardsonii. 



This merlin occurs sparingly throughout this region. Capt. Thome 

 found it rare at Ft. Keogh, noting two individuals in the fall of 18S9. 

 Messrs. Richmond and Knowlton report one specimen taken September 

 23, on the Madison River. On July 26, 1902, I took a specimen of Richard- 

 son's merlin, evidently a young of the year, at the head of Swan Lake, in 

 the Flathead Lake region. 



Distinguishing features: Much like the pigeon hawk, but tail is 

 crossed by five (more than four) dark bands; outer webs of long wing- 

 feathers, as well as inner webs, spotted with gray or yellowish; length 

 12-14 inches. 



360. AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. Falco sparverius. 



The most abundant of the Raptores in summer. In the spring the 

 aparrow hawk frequents the wooded margins of the streams and the cou- 



