290 LIFE HISTOEIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



side of the Columbia to a point opposite the mouth of the Okinakane, 

 following the shores of the former wherever practicable. On this march I 

 saw several more of their nests, all in similar locations on small projecting 

 ledges of perpendicular cliffs, most of them at a considerable height from 

 the ground and nearly all practically inaccessible, unless one was provided 

 with strong ropes and lowered from above. As the season was too far ad- 

 vanced I did not attempt to examine any of these nests for eggs. These 

 Falcons seemed to be common enough throughout the entire region traveled 

 over, and were about the only Raptores seen in this, for the most part, 

 scantily timbered country. 



At Fort Walla Walla, Washington, I noticed the Prairie Falcon more 

 often in the late summer and fall, a few during the winter, and again in the 

 spring on the return from their migrations. Without especially looking for 

 them, I usually obtained half a dozen specimens each season, young birds 

 greatly predominating. 



While here they fed principally on Brewer's Blackbirds (Scolecophagus 

 cyanocephalus), which always congregated in large flocks about the cavalry 

 stables, except during the breeding season, and were constantly harassed by 

 this Falcon, and also, but to a less extent, by the Pigeon Hawk and the 

 Black and Richardson's Merlins. 



The dead top of one of the largest cottonwood trees growing on the 

 banks of the little creek flowing past the garrison was selected as a favorite 

 perch by nearly all these birds, and fully three-fourths of the specimens 

 obtained were killed from it. As affording them the best outlook over the 

 surrounding country it was no doubt selected on that account. Most of their 

 hunting was done early in the morning and again about an hour before 

 sunset. Mourning Doves, Western Meadow Larks, and a domestic Pigeon fur- 

 nished them now and then with a meal, and I have also found the remains 

 of a Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse in the crop of one specimen. Poultry 

 was rarely molested; and although one of these Falcons would sometimes 

 make a dash at some of the fowls, it seemed to me that it was done more 

 to scare and to see them run than to capture them. Not a single instance 

 came under my observation where a chicken was actually struck by one of 

 them. I have no doubt whatever that they are fully capable of killing a 

 full-grown hen and of carrying her off, but they do not seem to care for 

 poultry, and I have more than once seen chickens feeding under a tree in 

 which one of these birds was sitting. 



On the plains where hares are abundant they are said to live partly on 

 them, and, should other food be scarce, no doubt some of the various species 

 of rodents found in such localities are also captured. In the vicinity of 

 Walla Walla they subsisted almost entirely on such birds as mentioned. 



They are strong and powerful for their size, very tenacious of life, and 

 ugly customers to handle when wounded, invariably throwing themselves on 

 their backs and fiercely striking out with their sharp talons. Their flight is 



