REPORT UPON ORNITHOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. 



137 



Grant and Bowie, Ariz., and a few other places, they were seen always 

 about the settlements of the prairie dogs. Their sight in the day ap- 

 pears to be remarkably good, and, as all I saw were very shy, it proved 

 to be no easy matter to get within shooting-distance. Their flight is 

 rather laborious and irregular, and they do not fly to any great distance 

 when alarmed, but try to hide in the mouths of the prairie-dog-holes, 

 though I never saw one take refuge in them. 



FALCONIDJE (the Falcons). 



142. Falco saker (Schleg.), var. polyagrus, Cass. Prairie-Falcon. 



Seen at several points in Arizona and New Mexico. In habits, shy 

 and solitary. I never observed it hunting its prey, but when flying it 

 maintains a direct course through the air from point to point, and pro- 

 gresses very swiftly by short, powerful strokes of the wings. Its flight 

 is sufficiently peculiar to distinguish it from any other hawk with which 

 I am acquainted. 



Bill bluish, black at tip ; feet lead-color. 



143. Falco columbarius, L. Pigeon-Hawk. 



I am quite confident that I saw this species once or twice in Southern 

 Arizona, and at least once in New Mexico, on the upper sources of the 

 Gila. It is given by Dr. Goues, in his list of " Birds of Fort Whipple," 

 as a common resident. 



144. Falco femoralis, Temm. Aplomado-Falcon. 



A hawk was seen in a mountainous locality near Camp Bowie, South- 

 eastern Arizona, which was without doubt of this species. It was about 

 the* size of a Cooper's Hawk, and, as it passed rapidly by within fair 

 shooting-distance, the black band across the abdomen was very con- 

 spicuous. It has twice been taken on our southern border. 



145. Falco sparverius, L. Sparrow-Hawk. 



Common everywhere, both in Arizona and New Mexico, breeding in 

 the holes of trees along the streams. Seems rarely to trouble the small 

 birds, but lives almost exclusively upon grasshoppers, of which it finds 

 a great abundance. 



