202 NOTES ON THE 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Upper plumage, dull earth-brown, each feather grayish- 
umber centrally, and with a conspicuous black shaft-line. Head 
above, approaching ashy-white anteriorly, the black shaft- 
streaks being very conspicuous. Secondaries, primary cov- 
erts, and primaries margined terminally witn dull white; the 
primary coverts with two transverse series of pale-ochrous 
spots; primaries with spots of the same, corresponding with 
those of the inner webs. Upper tail coverts tipped and spot- 
ted beneath the surface with white. Tail clear drab, much ~ 
lighter than the primaries, but growing darker terminally, 
having basally a slightly ashy-cast, crossed with six sharply 
defined, perfectly continuous bands (the last terminal) of ashy- 
white. Head frontally, laterally and beneath—a collar round the 
nape (interrupting the brown above)—and entire lower parts, 
white, somewhat ochraceous, this most perceptible on the 
tibise; cheeks and ear coverts with sparse, fine, hair-like 
streaks of black; nuchal collar, jugulum, breast, abdomen, 
sides, and flanks, with a median linear stripe of clear ochre- 
brown on each feather; these stripes broadest on the flanks; 
each stripe with a conspicuous black shaft-streak; tibie and 
lower tail-coverts with fine shaft-streaks of brown, like the 
broader stripes of the other portions. Chin and throat only, 
immaculate. Lining of the wings spotted with ochraeous- 
white and brown in about equal amounts, the former in spots 
approaching the shaft. Inner webs of the primaries with 
transverse broad bars of pale-ochraceous—eight on the longest. 
Wing, 7.70; tail, 5; culmen, 0.50; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.25; 
outer, 0.85; inner, 0.70; posterior, 0.50. 
Habitat, interior and western plains of North America. 
FALCO SPARVERIUS L. (360.) 
AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 
Arriving not far from the first day of April the Sparrow 
Hawk is seen for a short time very frequently. 
They feed much on mice, grasshoppers and crickets, but 
relish a sparrow when secured. No intelligent farmer wants 
these hawks destroyed, so valuable are their habits in the 
destruction of field mice especially. The pairing season is 
usually about the middle of May. For the construction of 
their nests holes of all sorts are employed, but more frequent- — 
ly that of a woodpecker, notably the Golden-winged, but 
hollow trees with a large knot hole for entrance are the first 
choice. Here there is a call for some substructure of sticks 
and twigs, on which are imposed the grass, leaves, moss. or 
feathers, as the surroundings best afforded. As arule they 
