28 MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



CERCHNEIS, Bote. 



12. C. spARVERius, (Linn.) Boie, Sparrow Hawk. 



This familiar little species is abundant throughout the country. 



ACCIPITRE, Briss. 



13. A. FCJscus, (Gmel.) Gray. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



Our pugnacious and daring little marauder appears to be distributed over the whole 

 of North America. 



14. A. cooPERii, (Bonap.) Gray. Cooper's Hawk. 



The most remarkable similiarity exists between the plumage of this species and 

 the former in every age ; and although the great difference in size renders it impos- 

 sible to mistake them, I think that if we depended upon the plumage alone, few suffi- 

 ciently distinguishing marks could be given. We find, in fact, in every department 

 of natural science, that those characters, which in one genus or family can be relied 

 upon as showing specific differences, are, in others, almost useless, or at best per- 

 plexing. 



This bird is common throughout the Pacific coast. 



CIRCUS, Lacep. 



15. C. HUDSONius, (Linn.) Vieill. Marsh Hawk. 



In low valleys or marshes throughout California, the Rocky Mountains, and New 

 Mexico, we are sure to find this widely disseminated species. 



BUBO, Cuv. 



16. B. viRGiNiANUs, (Gmel.) Bonap. Great Horned, or Cat Owl. 

 Common in the wooded regions of Upper California. 



STRIX, Linn. 



17. S. PERLATA, Licht. American Barn Owl. Verzeichniss d. doubl. des Berl. 

 Mus. p. 59. De Wied's Zoology of Brazil, vol. iii., part 1, p. 263. 



S. Jlammea, Wils. Amer. Orn. vol. vi., pi. 50, fig. 2. 



S. /areata, Temm. Planche's col. 432. 



S. pratincola. Bonap. 



S. Americana, Aud. Bds. of Amer., pi. 171. 

 The American Barn Owl was first distinguished from the European, by Lichten- 

 stein, in his catalogue of the duplicates of the Berlin Museum, published in 1823, 

 under the name of Strix perlata ; and afterwards by the Prince de Wied, who 

 described it more at length, and drew the distinctions between it and the true S'. 

 Jlammea. It was again described and figured by Temminck, in the Planches 

 Coloriees, under the very inappropriate name of (S. furcata, the tail in some speci- 



