220 NORTH AMi:ilICAN BIRDS. 



blotches were large ami well marked ; in the others, less strongly traced, but 

 quite distinct. 



The nest was found in a trat't of low land, covered with clumps of sedge, 

 on one of which it had been constructed. It is described as about the size 

 of a peck basket, circular, and composed entirely of snuiU dry sticks, "fin- 

 ished off or topped out with small bunches of pine boughs." There was 

 very little depth to the nest, or not enongli to cover the eggs from view in 

 taking a sight across it. " No feathers were found in or about it. It was 

 simply nmde of small dry sticks, about six inches thick, with about one inch 

 of pine boughs for finishing off the nest." The eggs were found about the 

 20th of ^lay. They contained young at least two weeks advanced, showing 

 that the bird began to lay in the latter part of April, and to sit upon her 

 eggs early in tlio following month. 



It will l)e thus seen that the eggs of this Hawk vary greatly in size and shape, 

 and in the presence or absence of marking, varying in length from 1.75 to 

 2.00 inches, and in breadth from 1.25 to 1.50, and in shape from an almost 

 gobular egg to an elongated oval. Some are wholly spotless, and others are 

 very strongly and generally blotched with well-defined purplish-brown. 



This Hawk was found breeding in the llnniboldt Valley by Mr. C. S. 

 M'Carthy, on the Yellowstone by Mr. Hayden, at Fort Benton by Lieutenant 

 Mullan, at Fort Resolution by Mr. Kennicott, at Fort Ilae and at Fort Simp- 

 son by Mr. lioss, at Li Pierre House by Lockhart, and on the Lower Ander- 

 son by Mr. ^lacFarlaue. 



Gexvs NISI7S, CuviER. 



Accipiter, Bri.ss. 1760. (TyjM', Fulco nisit.i, Lixx.) 



NiiU.i, Cvv. 1709. (Sami- type.) 



Astiir, L.\cKi'. 1801. (Type, Fiiko pahimharins, LiNS. ) 



I\v(hiUon, S.wiu. 1809. (Same type.) 



DxdaUuvi, Agass. (Same type.) 



Uparriiis, ViEli.i.. 181(). (Same ty])e.) 



JiTa,r, Leach, 18Ui. (Same type.) 



Ashr, SWAIXS. 1837. (Same type.) 



Mifmiiimis, Okay, 1840. (Tyne, Fulco gahar, Daud.) 



J'Jiitbo/i/piiK, 1.1)0. 18-12. (Same type.) 



IficnispiM, 1844, Jenr.ynM, 1851, antl Tcraspiza, 1867, Kaup. (Type, Falco limis, 



Latham.) 

 Hieraawphii, Ac as. (Same type.) 

 Ni^iustur, Blas. 1844. (Same type.) 

 i'ro.iphii, 184.5, I'ronpnia, 1848, and i'lvn/iiin, 1867, Kai'I'. (Type, Sparvius cirrhocepha- 



tus, VlEILL.) 

 Leucospizn, Kai'I', 1S51. (Type, Falcn imnK-hoUandice, Gmei,.) 

 Cimperci.i/ur, HoxAi". 1854. (Type, Accipilcr cimperi, Bonat.) 

 Erijlh rospixa, Kaii-, 1867. (Tyi)e, A. triiioliituii Tkuh.' not of BuNAr. 1880!) 



Gen. Char. Form slemloi-, the tail loiifj, the wings short ami lomuli'd, the feet slender, 

 tlie licad stniill. .ind liill rather weak. Bill nearly as high through the ba.<ie ns the length 



