REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 81 
Breeds in northern North America, south to the Middle States. Winters 
southward to Central America. Winter visitant, but not common, except along 
the coast. 
Pigeon Hawk; American Merlin—( Fcdco columbarium). 
A small, slate-blue hawk, with all the under parts light creamy or brownish, 
much streaked with dark ; tail with three or four broad, lighter-colored bars, 
ami the neck usually with a rusty collar. The primaries are barred with white. 
The pigeon hawk has a resemblance to the wild pigeon both when perching and 
when in flight. 
Breeds chiefly north of the United States. Winters southward to northern 
South America. Rather rare winter visitant. 
American Sparrow TIawk; Musty-crowned Falcon; Killy 
IIawk —( Falco sparvenus ). 
A common, beautiful little hawk, with much chestnut on back aud tail, and 
usually on crown also. The wings are slaty-blue, with black and white barred 
primaries, and the tail lias a black band near the white tip. The white cheek 
lias a black patch both in front and behind it. The under parts are huffy, 
very heavily streaked with darker in the female. 
Breeds in temperate North America. Winters southward to northern South 
America. Abundant resident, breeding throughout. 
American Osprey; Eisli Hawk —(Pcmdion lialiaetus carolin - 
ensis ). 
A large, blackish-backed, wliite-bellied bird, with much white on top of head 
and upper neck. Tail with six to eight obscure bands, more distinct below. It 
is seen flying slowly over the water of our coasts, watching for the fish which 
form its only food. When its prey is seen, it closes its wings and drops with 
wonderful velocity into the water and generally it secures the fish observed. 
Breeds in temperate and tropical America, to Hudson bay. Winters on coasts 
of Atlantic States, southward. Summer resident all along the New Jersey 
coast, being most plentiful in Ocean and Cape May counties. 
FAMILY ST RIGIDHI.—THE BARE OWLS. 
Only one species occurs in North. America. 
Barn Owl— (Strix pratincola). 
A large, night-flying, monkey-faced, black-eyed, brownish owl, with fine 
mottlings of white and black, and no ear tufts. 
Breeds in southern United States, not ranging above the Carolinian fauna. 
Winters the same. Resident, but not above the Carolinian fauna, except as a 
straggler. Breeds regularly in suitable places in southern New Jersey being 
especially common at all seasons on the Delaware meadows below Philadelphia. 
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