FALCONID.K — THE FALCONS. 



307 



It was said to have liccn only a little less dark iiliiinaj^'od than tlio male 

 parent. 



It is very alnindant throughout the Arctic rcM^ions, where it was found 

 breeding in the Anderson Itiver country hy ^Ir. !MacFarlane, from whom were 

 received valualile notes and a large number of specimens of birds and eggs. 

 It was oliserved generally by Dr. 

 liichardson's party, but owing to 

 its extreme wariness only a single 

 specimen was obtained. Iiiciiard- 

 son noted its arrival in liie fur 

 countries in April or ]May, and 

 gives the time of its departure as 

 early in October. 



Dr. Kennerly mentions finding 

 this Ilawk (piite abundant in the 

 vicinity of the I'ueblo Zuni, where 

 it confined itself in the neighbor- 

 hood of the stream, watching eager- 

 ly for ducks, which seemed to be 

 its favorite prey. 



Dr. Cooper found a large num- 

 ber of the.se I'uzzards on a low 

 point near the sea-coasts, at Shoal- 

 water Bay, Wasliington Territory, 

 in October. This \mnt was cov- 

 ered with small ])ines, on the dead tops of which they were observed sitting 

 in the manner of owls. Occasionally one woidd dart down after a movise, 

 and alight a short distance off. At fimes they would call to each other 

 with a loud scream, but they usually sat motioidcss and silent i'or hours 

 together. Some remained there throughout the winter, and he had no doubt 

 that a few build near the mouth of the Columbia, where he saw young 

 birds in July. In California, the same writer states, this H])ecies is only 

 a winter visitor, and has never been observed by him south of Santa Claia 

 Valley. 



Dr. Cones mentions the taking of a single specimen of this bird in the 

 Territory of Arizona in the winter, but no others were oltserved. 



Audul)on never met with this species south of Xorth Carolina nor west of 

 the Alleghanies. He regarded it as a sluggish bird, confining itself to the 

 meadows and low grounds bordering the rivers and salt marshes, where its 

 principal food appeared to be moles, mice, and other small qiuulru])eds. He 

 has never known it to attack a duck on the wing, although it will occasion- 

 ally pursue a wounded one. I'Acept when alarmed, it flies low and sedately, 

 and manifests none of the daring courage or vigor so conspicuous in most 

 Hawks. They arc also described as somewhat crepuscular iu habit, watching 



Arrhibuteo hgopus (Euro|i*') 



