370 AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 



A female from the same country has the oesophagus 4| inches long ; 

 the stomach If inch in diameter, the intestine 28 inches long. 



AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. 



FaLCO SPARVERIUS, LiNN. 

 PLATE CXLII. Vol. II. p. 246. 



Although this well-known species has not been observed farther 

 north than the 54th degree of latitude, it extends laterally from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific, and is found in all intermediate districts. I 

 have specimens from the Rocky Mountains and the valley of the Co- 

 lumbia River, which were procured by Dr Townsend. It is abimdant 

 in the Texas, where it breeds. 



Individuals of this species vary much in size, but I have not been 

 able to detect differences sufficient to induce me to think that two species 

 are confounded under a common name. 



In a male, the mouth is 9 twelfths in breadth ; the tongue 5^ twelfths 

 long, concave above, rounded at the tip, with a notch, and grooved be- 

 neath. The posterior aperture of the nares is ^ inch long, including 

 the slit. The oesophagus is 3 inches 2 twelfths long, inclined to the 

 right side, as usual, and expanded so as to form a crop of moderate size, 

 of which the greatest width is 9 twelfths. The stomach is round, a 

 little compressed, 11 twelfths long, 10 twelfths broad, its central ten- 

 dons 4^ twelfths ; its muscular coat thin, and composed of a single series 

 of fasciculi, many of which are separated to a distance equal to their 

 own breadth, when the stomach is distended. The proventricular glands 

 are very minute, and form a belt half an inch in breadth. The intestine 

 is 15 inches long, from 2^ twelfths to li twelfth in width. There are 

 no coeca. The rectum from 21 to 4i twelfths in width ; the cloaca glo- 

 bular and dilatable to 1^ inch. The inner surface of the stomach is 

 smooth, and the pylorus has three valvular prominences. 



The trachea is 2^^ inches long, from 2 twelfths to 1^ twelfth in 

 breadth, and much flattened; its rings 82, firm. The bronchi have 

 about 15 half rings. The muscles are as in the Peregrine and Iceland 

 Falcons. 



I 



