OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 169 



This handsome little Falcon is a miniature of the Peregrine, 

 and is quite its equal in courage and spirit, often attacking 

 birds of much greater weight than itself. It is not a common 

 species anywhere, and in Southern Ontario can only be regarded 

 as a migratory visitor m spring and fall. ^ It is at all 

 times a difficult matter to define the precise breeding range of 

 birds that are rare everywhere, and regarding the summer 

 haunts of the Pigeon Hawk we have yet much to learn. As it 

 has been known to breed in Maine, and in- Alaska, it is quite 

 likely to breed also in Ontario, where there is plenty of room 

 for it to do so without being observed. In the fall 

 when the Blackbirds get together in flocks, they are frequently 

 followed by the Little Corporal who takes his tribute without 

 much ceremony. I once saw him " stoop " on a flock as 

 they hurried toward the marsh for shelter. How closely thej^ 

 huddled together, as if seeking mutual protection, but he went 

 right through the flock and came out on the other side with one 

 in each fist ! 



Subgenus TINNUNCULUS Vieillot. ' 



145. FALCO SPARVERIUS Linn. 360. 



American Sparrotv Hawk. 



Tarsus and quills as in columharius. Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut 

 patch, sometimes small or altogether wantfng, sometimes occupying nearlj- 

 all the crown ; conspicuous black maxillary and auricular patches, which 

 with three others around the nape make seven black places in all, but a part 

 of them often obscure or wanting ; back cinnamon-brown, in the male with 

 a few black spots or none, in the /i?mfl/c with numerous black bars; wing- 

 coverts in the male ashy-blue, with or without black spots, in the female, like 

 the back ; quills in both sexes blackish with numerous pale or white bars on 

 inner webs ; tail chestnut, in the male with one broad black subterminal bar, 

 white tip, and outer feather mostly white with several black bars ; in the 

 female the whole tail with numerous imperfect black bars ; below white 

 variously tinged with buff or tawny, in the male with a few small black spots 

 or none, in the female with many brown streaks ; throat and vent nearly 

 white and immaculate in both sexes ; bill dark-horn, cere and feet yellow to 

 bright orange ; lo-ii ; wing, 7 ; tail, 5, more or less. 



Hab. Whole of North America, south to Northern South America. 



Eggs, 5 to 7 ; deposited in the hollow of a decayed limb, or deserted 

 Woodpecker's hole. In color variable, usually yellowish brown, blotched all 

 over with brown of a darker shade. 



