ZOOLOGY — BIRDS. 33 



centre of a bunch of mistletoe springing from the forks of the oak, and was composed of coarse 

 twigs lined with grasses and moss ; the eggs, two in number, being white, marked with faint 

 brown dashes, differing greatly from those of the European species, A. lagopus, (Gmel.) With 

 those of the A. sancti-johannis, I have never had the opportunity of comparing them. 



ELANUS LEUCURUS, Vieill .—The Black-shouldered Hawk. 



Elanus dispar, Aui). B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 70, pi. 16. 



Falco dispar, Aud. B. of A. Fol. pi. 359.— Nuttall. Ornith. vol. I, p. 93.— Temm. PI. Col. vol. I, pi. 319, (youug 



plumage.) — Ch. Bonaparte, Am. Orn. vol. II, p. 18, pi. 11, fig. 1. 

 Ftdco melanopterus, Bon. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. of Phil. vol. V, p. 28, 1825. 

 Elanus hucurus, Cassin, Gen. Rep. IX, 37. 



The extensive marshes of Suisun, Napa, and Sacramento valleys are the favorite resorts of 

 these birds, more especially during the winter season, as they there find a plentiful supply of 

 insects and mice, their principal nourishment. They generally range over their feeding grounds 

 in small flocks, from a single pair up to six or seven pairs together. I fell in with an isolated 

 pair in the mountains between Elizabeth lake and Williamson's Pass, hovering over a small 

 fresh water marsh ; this being the only instance observed by me of their travelling so far inland, 

 or away from large bodies of water or marsh. In July and August the young of this species 

 are found quite abundant in the country, thereby proving that it does not migrate for the 

 purposes of incubation. 



AOCIPITER COOPEEI, Bonaparte .—Cooper's Hawk. 



Falco cooperi, Bon. Syn. App. p. 433. — Ndtt. Orn vol. I, p 90. 

 Falco stanleyi, Nutt. Orn. vol. I, p. 91. — Aud. B. of A Fol. pi. 36. 

 Astur cooperi, Aud. Oct. vol. I, p. 98, pi. 24.— DeKay, Nat. Hist, of N. Y. Part I, p. 18, pi. 4, fig. 5. 



Not rare. 



ACCIPITEE FUSCUS, G m e 1 i n .—The Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

 Frequenting in great abundance the woodland country throughout California. 

 CIRCUS HUDSONIUS, Linn.— The Marsh Hawk. 



Circus cyaneus, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 105, pi. 26. 



Falco cyaneus, Aud. B. of A. Fol. pi. 356.— Bonap. A. Orn. vol. II, p. 30, pi. 12. 



Falco uliginosus, Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VI, p. 67, pi. 51, fig. 1. 



Abundant in California ; I also met with this species in New Mexico and Texas, and its range 

 therefore extends over our entire country. 



ATHENE CUNICULARIA, M o 1 i n a .—The Burrowing Owl. 



Strix cunicularia, Molina, Saggio, 1786. 

 Athene cunicularia, Cassin, Gen. Rep. IX, 60. 



Common on the extensive open prairies, where^ associated with the ground squirrel, they often 

 form a large community, though not as great as prairie-dog villages, which latter often cover a 

 mile or more of ground. The sight of this bird is very clear by day, nor will he allow the 

 hunter on foot to approach within fair shooting distance. When approached, however, on a 

 horse or mule, from which animals he apprehends no danger, his confidence renders him a certain 

 5 S 



