FALCO. 119 



Hal. -North America, Southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona 2. — Mexico, 

 Altamira, Tanipico (Armstrong^), Mazatlan, San Bias {Grayson^'''), Omealca, 

 Tehuantepec city {Sumichrast '^ ^^), Vera Cruz {Salle ^^), Jalapa (De Oca^^) 

 Yucatan (Cabof^^, Gaumer^'^); Guatemala {Skinner ^^), San Agustin {0. S. & 

 F. D. G.). — South America generally to Patagonia 3. 



In the South-western United States this Falcon breeds, and in many districts is not 

 uncommon. Though not unfrequent in Mexico, it is probably only a winter visitor 

 there. In Guatemala we obtained a single specimen at San Agustin. Of the presence 

 of the bird in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama there is no record. In South 

 America its distribution is very wide, extending as far as Patagonia. 



This species is said to be more shy than most of the American Falcons. The food 

 consists of small mammals, birds, and insects. The nest is composed of twigs with a 

 lining of grass, and is placed in a small bush or cactus ten or fifteen feet from the 

 ground ; occasionally the old nest of a Crow is utilized. 



The eggs, generally three in number, are of a dull yellowish white, thickly sprinkled 

 with red spots and blotches, resembling those of the Gyr-Falcon in the richness of their 

 colour. 



6. Falco columbarius. 



The Pigeon Hawk, Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina, i. p. 3, t. 3 *. 



Falco columbarms, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 128 ^j Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 408 °j 



Sumichrast, La Nat. v. p. 237*; Ferrari-Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 168°; Ridgw. 



Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 577 ° ; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 176, 320 'j Cherrie, Auk, 1892, 



p. 328 ' ; Bendire, Life Hist. N. Amer. Birds, i. p. 298, 1. 10. figs. 4,8' ; Fisher, Bull. U. S. 



Dep. Agr. no. 3, p. 109, t. 16"; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. v. p. 34" ; A. O. U. 



Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, p. 138"; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, nq. 14, p. 38". 

 HypotriorcMs columbarms, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 134"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. 



p. 300 '^ V. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 369 '%• Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 215 " ; Ibis, 1889, 



p. 375 " ; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 269 ". 



Supra clare cinereus, plumarum rachidibus nigris valde indicatis ; pileo et iuterseapulio dorso coneoloribns, 

 sed nigro latius striatis ; torque cervical! interrupto albo rufoque mixto ; remigibus nigris, intus 

 grisescenti-albo fasciatim notatis ; oauda clare cinerea, albo terminata, fasciis nigris plus minusve 

 infcerruptis notata, fascia subterminali latissima ; loris et striga supercUiari albidis, nigro striolatis ; facie 

 laterali et regione parotica fulvidis, nigro distincte lineolatis ; gutture albo, vix nigro striolato ; collo 

 laterali et. corpore subtus reliquo rufescentibus, plumis medialiter nigro striatis ; hypocbondriis brunneis, 

 maculis albis ovalibus notatis ; abdomine tibiisqne rufeseentioribus, nigro striolatis ; subcaudalibus 

 rufesoenti tinctis, sed clare cinereo lavatis et medialiter nigro striatis ; subalaribus albis, palUde brunneo 

 transfasciatis. Long, tota circa 11"0, alae 7-7, caudss 4-7, culm. 0-7, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. maris ex Ins. 

 Euatan. Mus. nostr.) 



9 marl similis, sed ubique saturatior : supra brunneseentior, minime schistaceus ; facie laterali sordide 

 brnnnea : subtus f nlvescenti-albus, gutture maculis sagittiformibus ornato ; gastrteo reliquo ochrascent , 

 plumis medialiter late brunneo striolatis ; hypocbondriis maculis albis ovatis notatis ; rectrieibus 

 centralibus fere concoloribus, reliquis autem rufescenti fasciatim maculatis. Long, tota circa 11-5, 

 alfe 8"4, caudse 5'1, culm. 0*7, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. femiuae ex Walla Walla. Mus. nostr.) 



