Various Florida Birds. 
2 9 
Measurements in millimeters. 
Average. 
C. s. patilus : 
Male: Lgth. 
237 
Wg. 
1 73 
Tl. 
105 
Tar. 
33 
Bill 
nos. 
12; 
Female : “ 
258 
U 
177 
u 
102 
u 
• 
33 
u 
u 
12. 
c. 
s. sparverius : 
Male : 
255 
Wg. 
CO 
Tl. 
120 
Tar. 
3 6 
Bill 
nos. 
11. 
Female: 
271 
u 
189 
u 
I 2 I 
U 
37 
u 
u 
12. 
c. 
s. isabellinus : 
Male: 
— 
Wg. 
172 
Tl. 
112 
Tar. 
34 
Bill 
nos. 
12. 
Female: 
— 
u 
186 
u 
122 
U 
3 6 
u 
u 
12. 
Remarks. The resident Sparrow Hawk of Florida has been referred to 
several races, but is undoubtedly different from any already described. 
In fact it is one of the most distinctly separable races of this most inter¬ 
esting group on account of its very short tail. It differs from north¬ 
eastern examples in that its colors are darker, and in its materially smaller 
size. From C.s. isabellinus (Swains.) of northern South America to which 
it has been referred, it differs in that its upper colors are darker and that 
its throat is immaculate, while in size it is even smaller, its tail being 
over ten millimeters shorter. Dr. E. A. Mearns pointed out in his excel¬ 
lent review of the American Sparrow Hawks (Auk, 1892, pp. 252-270) the 
small size of the Florida bird, but did not give it a name as he did not 
consider it advisable. We have examined a large series of breeding birds 
from Florida which show darker not “ paler ” colors which he attributed to 
the Florida bird, and whose short-tail and materially smaller size makes 
unlabelled specimens separable. Dr. Mearns included Louisiana birds 
with the Florida, which probably accounts for his decision in not nam¬ 
ing the Florida bird, for although the Louisiana specimens suggest the 
Florida examples they are separable, andaveraged with Florida specimens 
help to conceal the real characters of the southern Florida bird. Missis¬ 
sippi valley specimens of many species approach described Florida races, 
and in our opinion have been included in some cases under a name which 
should cover only peninsular examples, i. e. Sturnella magna angutula 
Bangs. It is of course a matter of personal opinion the amount of con¬ 
stant variation which should determine a race, but in our judgment when 
a bird’s habits and superficial appearance are as different as are those of 
Sparrow Hawks of Southern Florida as compared with those of the north¬ 
eastern bird, and when unlabelled specimens can be invariably separated, 
the element of personal judgment is almost eliminated. 
*Exiremes: $ Wg. 170-176, Tl. 99-112, Tar. 31 - 34 , Bill nos. 11-13; $ 
Wg. 175-181, Tl. 99-111, Tar. 33 - 34 , Bill nos. 11—1 3 . 
