12 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
Sub-Genus Gennaia. 
FALCO POLYAGRUS, Cass in. 
Falco polyagrus, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 88. (1853.) 
Figures.—Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, pi. 16. 
i 
Narrow frontal band, line over the eye and entire under parts white ; stripe from the corner of the mouth running 
downwards, dark brown ; breast and abdomen with longitudinal stripes and spots of brown, which color forms a large and 
c onspicuous spot on the flank. Upper parts brown, paler on the rump ; tail above pale grayish brown, narrowly tipped 
with white, and with transverse bands of white ; quills dark greyish brown ; edge of wing at the shoulder and below 
white, spotted with brown. Bill bluish ; under mandible yellow at base ; space around the eye bare, with a narrow edging 
of hrown on the first plumage around it, the brown of the back extending somewhat on to the breast at the wing. 
Younger. Frontal band nearly obsolete ; upper parts uniform pale brown, with narrow rufous stripes on the head ; under 
arts white, tinged with dull yellow, nearly every feather having a longitudinal stripe of dark brown; large spaces on the 
flanks brown ; tarsi and toes lead colored. 
Total length 18 to 20 inches, wing 13 to 14, tail 71- to 8 inches. 
Hab. Western North America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. 
This is exclusively a species of Western North America, hut extending its range east of the 
Rocky mountains, several specimens having been obtained during the exploration of the upper 
Missouri and Yellow Stone rivers by the party commanded by Lieutenant G. K. Warren, 
United States army. A specimen of this species has, also, been recently procured in western 
Illinois by Mr. J. D. Sergeant, of Philadelphia. 
Adults of both sexes are very similar, in fact not differing except in size, and are almost pre_ 
cisely as described and figured by us as above. 
It is possible that this may he the specices described as Falco mexicanus in 1850 by Schlegel, 
hut I have been unable to make a reference to his article. 
List of specimens. 
Catalogue number. 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Original number. 
Nature of speci¬ 
men. 
Collected by— 
Point of bill to end j 
of tail. m 
_■-. - •_ 
Between tips of out- 5 
stretched wings. 3 
_ O 
nts. 
15 
Q. 
— 
CS 
o 
S 2 
JU 
tp 
> 
5169 
Mouth of Knife river. Mo. river... 
Sept. 10, 1856.... 
19.00 
5168 
9 
Sept. 16, 1856.... 
Iris dark brown 
18.25 
5167 
9 
Oct. 17,1856.... 
19.00 
5951 
s 
N. Platte. Nebraska. 
Aug. 20, 1857. 
Lieut. Bryan....... 
429 
W. S. Wood... 
8502 
O 
Fort Thorne, New Mexico. 
Dr. T. C. Henry.... 
8503 
Winter, 1853-’54 . 
Lieut. Whipple.... 
38 
Mbllhausen.. 
8504 
9 
Fort Dalles, Oregon Territory. 
Dr. Suckley. 
143 
14.50 
4351 
Presidio, California. 
5482 
9 
Petaluma, California. 
Jan., 1856.. 
E. Samuels. 
82 
