FALCO. 251 
8.80-9.10 (8.95), tail 5.70-6.30 (5.92), culinen .55-.60, tarsus 
1.30-1.40, middle toe 1.15-1.25. Young (both sexes): Similar to 
adult female, but more decidedly buffy below, and upper parts 
more or less tinged with rusty. gg (single specimen) 1.52 X 
1.22, buffy white, handsomely marbled and irregularly spotted 
with madder-brown. Hab. Interior of North America, breed- 
ing from Rocky Mountains of Colorado (?) northward, and 
strageling west to Pacific coast; south, in winter, to Texas and 
Arizona (probably into Mexico). 
358. F. richardsonii Rinew. Richardson's Merlin. 
bt’, Tarsus decidedly longer than middle toe; basal phalanx of toes with trans- 
verse scutelle. 
c. Bill robust, the length of the cere on top equal to about one-third 
the culmen; transverse scutella on basal phalanx of toes large 
and almost uninterrupted; second and third quills longest, first 
equal to or shorter than fourth; sexes essentially alike in color, 
and young not very different from adults; size medium (wing more 
than 9.00). (Subgenus Rhynchofaico Ripew.) 
Adult: Above plain bluish gray or plumbeous, the secondaries 
broadly tipped with whitish; tail darker towards end, tipped 
with white, and crossed by about eight narrow bands of the 
same; a broad stripe behind eye, middle of ear-coverts, with 
entire chin, throat, and chest, immaculate white, the postocular 
stripe changing to orange-rufous on occiput, where the two of 
opposite sides are confluent; sides and flanks slaty blackish, 
narrowly barred with white; thighs and lower tail-coverts 
light rufous, or rusty ochraceous. Young: Similar to adult, 
but colors duller, the gray above less bluish, rufous or ochra- 
ceous of thighs, etc., paler, the chest more or less buffy and 
striped with dusky. Male: Length about 15.00, wing 9.20- 
10.70, tail 6.30-8.00, culmen .60-.68, tarsus 1.70-1.85, middle 
toe 1.35-1.50. Female: Length about 17.00-18.00, wing 11.00- 
11.60, tail 7.80-8.80, culmen .71-.80, tarsus 1.80-2.00, middle toe 
1.55-1.70. West on low trees or bushes (usually yuccas or 
cacti). Eggs 2-4(?), 1.77 x 1.38, dull white or buffy white, 
thickly speckled and irregularly spotted with vandyke-brown. 
Hab. Tropical America in general (except West Indies), north 
to southern Texas and New Mexico. 
359. F. fusco-ccerulescens VIEILL. Aplomado Falcon. 
ce, Bill small, the length of the cere on top less than one-fourth the chord 
of the culmen; transverse scutellea interrupted at extreme lower 
part of tarsus and extreme base of toes; tarsus much longer than 
middle toe (without claw) ; sexes very different in color, and young 
of both sexes (in American species) essentially like adults. Mest in 
holes, usually in dead trees. Hggs 2-5, 1.45, or less, x 1.16, or less, 
