BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 201 
which I have seen but two individuals of the species, and those 
had been already mounted. I pronounce it a rare species in 
Minnesota. I have never yet seen a specimen of them alive, 
much as I have been on the alert for them. Of course occa- 
sional individuals pass through the country in migration or 
those mentioned could not have been obtained, for they were 
all killed within our borders. And all the conditions requisite 
for their food are here, so that for aught apparent they might 
breed here as highly favored as anywhere else, yet for some 
reason they do not to any great extent at least so far as is yet 
known. Their food is mostly comprised of small birds. 
They reach this latitude early in April, sometimes not until 
the middle, when they remain but a very short time. From the 
statement of persons familiar-with birds in general, one indi- 
vidual has been met with in November, but the next latest date 
that I have learned of was the twenty-fifth of October. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Entire upper parts bluish-slate color, each feather with a 
black longitudinal line; forehead and throat white, other under 
parts pale-yellowish, or reddish-white, every feather with a 
longitudinal line of brownish-black; tibiz light ferruginous 
with lines of black; quills black tipped with ashy-white; tail 
light bluish-ashy, tipped with white and with a wide subter- 
minal band of black, and with several other transverse narrow 
bands of black; inner webs nearly white; cere and legs yellow; 
bill blue. 
Length (of female), 12 to 14; wing, 8 to 9; tail, 5 to 5.50. 
Habitat, North America. 
Note.—The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox) has been 
confounded with this species, on account of its having also 
been popularly called the Pigeon Hawk, but it is very unlike it 
in nearly all respects, and finds its systematic place in another 
genus. 
FALCO RICHARDSONIT Ripeway. (858.) 
RICHARDSON’S MERLIN. 
This species so long regarded a variety of Columbarius, has 
only, like the other, come under my notice in two skins ob- 
tained in a collecting exploration near the head of Lake Super- 
ior in 1875. They were listed as belonging to the other 
species, but afterwards came under my examination when I 
decided they were Richardson’s Hawk. lam notat all certain 
that one or two of those given under Columbarius were not of 
this species, but not all. Isubjoin Mr. Ridgways’ description 
of his newly named species. 
