230 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



frond a; yellowish or creamy-white to reddish or pinklsh-bufC; the surface is sprinkled'> 

 splashed, blotched, spotted and clouded with shades of chestnut and cinnamon- 

 "brdwn, and the markings may be more numerous and heavier at either end, and they 

 may be so confluent as to conceal the ground color. The largest eggs I have are 

 Irom Ohio, taken by Robert Linton, April 20, four in number. Sizes, 1.37x1.15, 1.40x 

 1.13, 1.38x1.12, 1.44x1.16. The average size of the Sparrow Hawk's eggs is 1.36x1.12. 

 They are usually deposited in April or in the first half of May. 



360a. DESEBT SPARROW HAWK. Falco sparverius deserticolus Mearns. 

 Geog. Dist. — Western United States, north to British Columbia and Western Mon- 

 tana. 



The nidiflcation and general habits of this subspecies are in most cases identical 

 -with those of its Eastern representatives. Mr. L. P. Williams, of Redlands, Cali- 

 iornia, writes me that he found this hawk nesting in holes in the bank of a creek in 

 that vicinity. He states that the holes were dug on an average of about fifteen feet 

 above the stream and were about twelve inches deep. A set of five and one of four 

 «ggs were talien from a hole from which he had previously obtained a set of Red- 

 shafted Flicker's eggs. The Hawks, he states, dug the holes themselves, and the 

 :nest lining was nothing but the dust from the walls. 



360b. ST. liUCAS SPARROW HAWK. Palm sparverius peninsularis Mearns. 

 Geog. Dist. — Lower California. 



This geographical race, confined to Lower California, has the same habits which 

 •characterize the American Sparrow Hawk of the Eastern States. 



[361.] CTJBAH SPARROW HAWK. Falco duminicensls Gmel. Geog. Dist.— 

 •Cuba; casual in Florida. 



A darker colored bird than F. sparverius is a common resident of the Islands of 

 Cuba and Haiti, and it secures a place in the North American avifauna on the 

 strength of stragglers having been taken in Florida. The general habits of the 

 Cuban Sparrow Hawk are counterparts of those of the species of Eastern United 

 States. The eggs are from three to five in number and average a trifle smaller than 

 those of /S. sparverius. 



362. AUDUBON'S CARACARA. Polyborus rVeriwuy (Jacq.) Geog. Dist— 

 Northern South America (Ecuador and Guiana) north to the southern border of the 

 United States, Florida, Texas and Arizona. 



Common to the Southern border of the United States, and known as the Mexican 

 Eagle or Buzzard — intermediate between the Eagles and Buzzards, and resembling 

 both in its habits. It catches some of its prey living, but feeds readily upon dead 

 animals. Although sluggish at times, it is said to fly well, moving in a direct line, 

 resembling the Black Vulture somewhat, flapping and sailing alternately, but when 

 high in air, circles like a Hawk or Eagle. Dr. Merrill records this bird as a common 

 resident, but more abundant in winter than summer in the vicinity of Fort Brown, 

 Texas, and Mr. George B. Sennett also mentions it as not uncommon in the region 

 Of Brownsville. It has been found breeding as fax; north as Comal, Hays and Lee 

 counties, Texas, in the months of March and April, and in Jefferson county as late 

 as March 30. Mr. Stuart informs me that he has always met with this bird breeding 

 on the large prairies of Southern Florida in March and April. Eggs were taken 

 April 4. The tops of the cabbage palmetto trees are their favorite nesting places in 

 that region. The nests in Texas and Mexico are built in trees or bushes, and some- 

 times in cliffs; they are bulky platforms of branches, with a slight depression, lined 

 ■with twigs, roots and grasses, and frequently altogether without lining. Both sexes 



