166 



LARK— FALCONS— HAWK— KITES-OWLS. 



broken. The song is only heard for a brief period in the summer, 

 ceasing when the inspiration of the love season is over, and it is 

 only uttered when the birds are soaring. " 



Southwestern Lark. {Eremophila alpestris, var. chrysolcema.) 

 Fig. 19. 



This variety is an inhabitant of the southwestern Territories, 

 thence extending southward to New Grenada. Dr. Cones men- 

 tions this bird as being a permanent resident of Arizona, in all sit- 

 uations adapted to its wants. He also had an opportunity of ob- 

 serving the typical bird (represented on Plate LVI, fig. 4, page 82) 

 in Labrador, where he found it very abundant on all moss-covered 

 islands around the coast, and could notice nothing in their view, 

 flight, or general manners, different from their usual habits in their 

 southern migrations, except that during the breeding-season they 

 do not associate in flocks. 



PLATE CX. 



Femoral or Aplomado Falcon. {Falco femoralis.) 



Fig. 1. 



This Falcon has an extended range, covering the whole of 

 South America, thence northward through Central America and 

 Mexico, across the Rio Grande, into Texas and New Mexico. 

 Dr. Heerman obtained a specimen on the vast plains of New 

 Mexico, near the United States boundary line. It appeared to 

 him to be flying over the prairies in search of small birds and 

 mice, at times hovering in the manner of the common Sparrow 

 Hawk, represented on Plate XXXIX, figs. 1 and 2, page 54. 

 This species is said to be easy of approach, differing in that respect 

 with most Hawks. 



Richardson's Falcon, or Merlin ; American Merlin. {Falco richardsomi.) 



Fig. 2. 



The habitat of this Pigeon Hawk covers most of North America. 

 It is also met with in Arctic America, in the United States, from 

 the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains. Its habits, so far as 

 known, differ very little from our common Pigeon Hawk {Falco 

 columbtanus), Plate XXXII, figs. 3 and 4, page 40. The two 

 species are very closely related, and often are taken to be the 

 same birds. 



Isabella Sparrow Hawk. 



{Falco sparverius, v$*r. tsabellinus.') 

 Fig. 3- 



This bird is a southern variety of our common Sparrow Hawk 

 {Falco s^arverius), Plate XXXIX, figs. 1 and 2, page 54. Its 

 habitat being mostly along the gulf coast of Mexico and the 

 United States, through Texas and Louisiana, to Florida. The 

 habits of this variety are similar to the typical species. 



Mississippi Kite ; Blue Kite. {Ictinia mississippiensis.) 



Fig. 4- 



This species is mostly confined to the extreme southern and 

 southwestern portion of the Gulf States or the Atlantic. It ex- 

 tends as far north as South Carolina. On the Mississippi, where it 

 is often met with in large numbers, it extends its migrations still 

 farther north. Wilson first discovered this bird at Natchez, where 

 he noticed it sailing about in easy circles, and at considerable 



height in the air, generally in company with the Turkey Buzzards, 

 whose manner of flight it almost exactly imitated, so much so as 

 to make it appear either a miniature of that species, or like one of 

 them at a great distance ; both being observed to soar at great 

 heights previous to a storm. He supposes that this apparent simi- 

 larity of manner of flight may be attributable to their pursuit 01 

 their respective kinds of food — the Buzzard on the lookout for car- 

 rion, and the birds of the present species in search of those large 

 beetles that are known to fly in the higher regions of the air, 

 and which, in the three individuals dissected by him, were the only 

 substances found in their stomachs. For several miles, as he 

 passed near Bayou Manahak, the trees were swarming with a kind 

 of cicada, or locust, that made a deafening noise. He then ob- 

 served a number of these birds sweeping about among the trees in 

 the manner of swallows, evidently in pursuit of the insects, which 

 proved, on dissection, to be their principal food. He was most 

 impressed with the rapidity of the flight of this bird, also, its great 

 strength and energy of character. Audubon admires it for its 

 devotion to its young, and states that in one instance he saw the 

 female bird lift up and attempt to carry out of his reach one of her 

 fledgelings. She carried it in her claws the distance of thirty 

 yards, or more. 



Everglade Kite ; Hook-bill Kite, or Black Kite. {Rostrhamus soctabilts.) 



Fig. 5- 



This bird is mostly confined to the southern portion of Florida 

 and the West Indies in North America. It is well known in its 

 own countries — Central and South America — and is described as 

 very sociable in its habits ; unjike, in this respect, to most all other 

 birds of prey. Mr. Maynard noticed six or eight specimens, in 

 Florida, frequently flying together, at one time^ver the marshes, 

 or sitting in company on the same bush. In their flights, they re- 

 semble the common Marsh Hawk. Are very unsuspicious, and 

 may be quite readily approached. On dissecting a number of 

 these birds, he found that it feeds largely on a species of fresh- 

 water shell {Pomus defressd). 



White-tailed Kite ; Black-shouldered Kite. {Elanus leucurus.) 



Fig. 6. 



*• 



This beautiful and harmless bird is met with in the South At- 

 lantic and Gulf States, chiefly coastwise. They are also found in 

 Mexico and Central America. Dr. Cooper mentions this species 

 as quite numerous in California, remaining in large numbers, dur- 

 ing the winter, among the extensive tuli marshes of the Sacra- 

 mento and other valleys. He met with these Kites as far north as 

 Bauline's Bay, and near Monterey, but always about streams or 

 marshes. Their food consisted entirely of mice, gophers, smalJ 

 birds and snakes, and they are not known to attack the inmates of 

 the poultry yard. Audubon saw several of these birds in Texas. 

 flying, at a small elevation, over the large marshes, and coursing 

 in search of its prey in the manner of the common Marsh Harrier 



Kirtland's Owl; Saw-whet Owl; White-fronted Owl; Acadian Owl. 



{Nyctale acadia.) 



Fig. 7. 



According to Dr. Coues, the Acadian Owl is not so boreal a bird as 

 its congener, being found throughout the United States in suitable 

 places, and in the more southerly portions of British America. He 

 found no decidedly arctic quotations. It is, however, more numerous 

 in the northern half of the United States ; and, although it has been 

 traced far into Mexico, its southward extension appears to be mainly 

 along wooded mountain ranges, the altitude of which compensates, 



