SPAEEOW HAWK. 425 



Not common spring and fall migrant in March, April, September, 

 October and November in most portions of the State, rare resident near 

 Cleveland where it sometimes breeds. Mr. Langdon gives it as a rare 

 migrant in the vicinity ot Cincinnati, and it is far from common in the 

 vicinity of Columbus. It is usually seen in the vicinity of streams and 

 low grounds, pursuing flocks of Blackbirds and other migrants. It re- 

 cdeves its name from its size and color, rather than from any habit of 

 preying upon pigeons. 



Dr. Kirtland speaks of it as of frequent occurrence in Northern Ohio, 

 and Mr. Read notes its occu.rrence in midsummer. Mr. Kirkpatrick says: 



"This handsome little Hawk is of pretty oommnn ooonrrenoe in this State. Dr. Kirt- 

 land says it is a permanent resident. A pair have built their nests for several year past 

 near his house at Rockport, and he has observed them during the vrhole season. They 

 visit his barn and oat-houses in pursuit of mice and other small prey. He shot two 

 young specimens, but the old are too shy to be approached within shot. They are now 

 in very tine dark plumage; the young being much lighter colored." 



This is perhaps its most southern breeding record, and will surprise 

 many ornithologists, as no other authentic and specific account exists of 

 its breeding in the Eastern United States, south of Maine. It is hardly 

 possible that so accurate an observer as Dr. Kirtland should have failed 

 to properly identify the birds breeding with him. 



The nest is said to be placed in trees or on rocks. The eggs vary in 

 size " from 1.50 by 1.30 to 1.80 by 1.30. Coloration ranges from a nearly 

 uniform deep rich brown to whitish or white, marked with a few indis- 

 tinct dots of dull grayish or drab." 



Falco sparverius Linnseus. 



Sparro^v M awii. 



Faloois'parveHus. Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1338, 161, 178. — Read, Fam. Visitor, iii, 



1852, 212; Proo. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., vi, 1853, 395 — Wheaton, Ohio Agric. Rep. 



for 1860, 360; Reprint, 1861, 2; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio A.grio. Rep. for 1874, 570 ; 



Reprint, 1875, 10.— Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 12; Revised List, Journ. 



Gin. See. Nat Hist., i, 1879, 179; Reprint, 13; Summer Birds, ib, iii, 1880, 225. 

 XinnuvDulua sparverius, Kikkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, vii, 1858, 171 ; Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 



1858, 348. 



Falco sparverius, Linn.eus, Syst, Nat., i, 1766, 128. 

 linnunculus sparverius, Vibillot, Ois. Am. Sept., i, 1807, 48. 



Tarsus and quills as in columbarius. Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut patch, some- 

 times small or altogether wanting, sometimes occupying nearly all the crown ; conspi- 

 cuous 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 female with num- 



