538 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —BAPTOBES— ACCIPITBE8. 



contrary to the rule in this family. Tail rounded, at least f as long as the wing, usually 

 more. Wings pointed by 2d and 3d quills; 1st about equal to 4th; 1st and 2d emargiuate 

 on inner webs near the end; 2d and 3d sinuate on outer webs. Tarsus feathered but a little 

 way down in front, decidedly longer than middle toe without claw, usually surpassing middle 

 too and claw. Young differing less than usual from adults of their respective sexes. Adults : 

 Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut patch, sometimes small or altogether wanting, sometimes 



occupying nearly all the crown. Conspicuous black maxil- 

 lary and auricular patches which, with three otliers aroimd 

 the nape, make seven places in aU, usually evident, but some 

 of tliem often obscure or wanting. Back cinnamon-rufous, 

 or chestnut, like the crown-patch, in the ^ with a few black 

 spots or none, in the 9 with numerous black bars. Wing- 

 coverts of the (J fine ashy-blue, like the crovim, with or 

 without black spots ; of the 9 cinnamon-rufous and black- 

 ban-ed, like tlie Ijack. QuiU feathers in ^,9 bhickish, 

 Fig. 378. — Sparrow Hawk, nat. usually with pale edges and tips, and the inner webs with 

 size, (.idiiat. del. E. C.) numerous white indentations, or bars continuous along the 



inner webs, leaving the black chiefly in a series of dentations proceeding from the shafts ; 

 ends of secondaries usually also slaty-blue like the coverts. Tail bright chestnut, in the ^ 

 witli white tip, broad black subterrainal zime, and outer feathers mostly white with several 

 black bars, in tlie 9 tlio whole tail with numerous imperfect black bars. Under parts wliite, 

 variously tinged with buff or tawny, in the ^ with a few black spots or none, in the 9 witli 

 many dark brown streaks ; throat and vent usually immaculate. Bill dark horn ; cere and 

 fe.'t yellow or orange. Length, either sex, 10.00-11.00; e.xtent 20.00-23.00; wing 6.50- 

 8.00; tail 4.50-6.00 ; tarsus 1.35 ; middle toe without claw 1.00. The young do not require 

 to be separately described, as tlie species is a strongly marked one, and as the young speedily 

 acquire recognizable sexual characters. They may be distinguished when just from tlie nest. 

 N. Am., everywhere very abundant. Despite its great variation in markings, aside from the 

 normal sexual differences, this elegant little falcon will be immediately recognized by the sub- 

 generic characters of Tinnuncuhis, its small size, and entirely peculiar coloration. Its char- 

 acteristic habit is to hover or poise in the air over some object which seems to promise a meal, 

 and then p(junce down upon the prey. The birds are very active and noisy during the breeding 

 season. They build no nest, but lay in tlie hollows of trees, often deserted woodpeckers' holes, 

 or similar nooks iu rocks or about buildings. Eggs 5-7, nearly spheroidal, about 1.33 X 

 1.12; ground-color usually buffy, or pale yellowisli-brown ; blotched all over with dark bro'wn, 

 the splashes of which are usually largest and most numerous toward the greater end, at or 

 around which they may run into a crown or wreath. Some eggs are pale brown, minutely 

 dotted all over with dark brown ; some are white, with pale brown spots ; and a few are whit- 

 ish without any markings. 



509. F. s. isabelU'uus? (Low Lat. isabellimis, color of a dirty eliemise.) Isabel Sparrow 

 Hawk. A Middle American form of the last, occurring in the Gulf States, shading directly 

 into sparverius proper : ^ witliout rufous on crown ; several lateral tail-feathers variegated, 

 and the black zone an inch wide ; black spots on back and sides very sparse ; breast ochra- 

 ceous. 9 ^'^'ith the black bars of the upper parts very broad, upon a fcrrugiueous ground. 



510. F. sparverio'i'tles. (Lat. fiparveritis, and Gr. ei'Sor, cidos, likeness.) Cuban Sparrow Hawk. 

 Closcdy related to F. sparrerius, and generally similar, but apparently a distinct species. $ : 

 "Above, except the tail, entirely dark plumbeous, with a blackish nuchal collar; primaries 

 and edges and subterminal portion of tail-feathers, black. Beneath, deep rufous (like the 

 back of sparverius) with a wasli of jilumbeous across the jngnlum ; throat grayish-white. 

 Inner webs of primaries slaty, witli transverse cloudings of darker. 9 differing from that of 



