53 



named locality where old and young birds were observed by Bruner 

 Aug. 5 to 19, 1903, flying about the cliffs 8 miles west of Ft. Robin- 

 son, going in and out of a recess that may have been the nesting site. 



357. Falco columbarius Linnaeus — Pigeon Hawk. 



Not common, but found over the entire state during migrations. 

 A few remain over winter. We have no records of its breeding in 

 the state. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, Neligh, Long Pine, Dawes 

 and Sioux counties. 



358. Falco richardsonii Ridgway — Richardson Merlin. 



This small hawk seems to be rare in Nebraska at present, but 

 is said by Aughey to have been formerly common and to have bred, 

 but he gave no definite breeding record. Taken at West Point and 

 Omaha by Bruner; and reported from southeastern Nebraska by 

 Powell. The museum of the state university contains a specimen 

 from the first locality. 



360. *Falco sparverius Linnaeus — Sparrow Hawk. 



Common in the eastern portion of the state; abundant westward; 

 breeding throughout. Arrives early in April, departs -in October. 



360a. Falco sparverius phalaena Lesson — Desert Sparrow Hawk. 



A specimen from Sioux county taken in Jim creek canyon May 26, 

 1901, by M. A. Carriker, Jr., and sent to Witmer Stone, has been 

 determined as "nearly typical" phalcena. Whether or not this 

 is the breeding form there we cannot say. It was not suspected 

 hitherto that we had this form in the state, and careful note was not 

 taken of the Sioux county birds. 



364. *Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmelin) — Ospret. 



A regular migrant ; most frequent along the Missouri and its tribu- 

 taries, ks^ so in the interior or middle, and almost or quite absent 

 from the extreme western portion. Formerly bred along the Mis- 

 souri river near Rockport, where Bruner observed birds carrying 

 food to the nest, and may still do so occasionally in the northeastern 

 part of the state. Numerous records. , 



Family STRIGID-&)— Barn Owls 



Without ear-tufts; eyes black; above gray and yellowish buff; below white 



more or less washed with buff and spotted with black 



Barn Owl ; Monkey-faced Owl. 



365. *Strix pratincola Bonaparte — Barn Owl; Monkey-fa,ced Owl. 



Practically over the entire eastern half of state, but more com- 

 mon southward; becoming more generally dispersed with the 

 settlement of new districts. Breeds over most of its range, selecting 

 for the purpose burrows in banks, niches in rocky cliffs, hollow trees, 

 nooks about buildings, etc. Lincoln, Omaha, West Point, Cherry 

 county, Beatrice, Hebron, McCook. 



