SPARROW HAWK. 425 
Not common spring and fall migrant in March, April, September, 
October and November in most portions of the State, rare resident near 
Cleveland where it sometimes breeds. Mr. Langdon gives it as a rare 
migrant in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and it is far from common in the 
vicinity of Columbus. Lt is usually seen in the vicinity of streams and 
low grounds, pursuing flocks of Blackbirds and other migrants. It re- 
clieves its name from its size and color, rather than from any habit of 
preying upon pigeons. 
Dr. Kirtland speaks of it as of frequent occurrence in Northern Ohio, 
and Mr. Read notes its occurrence in midsummer. Mr. Kirkpatrick says: 
‘This handsome little Hawk is of pretty common occurrence in this State. Dr. Kirt- 
land says it is a permanent resident. A pair have built their nests for several year past 
near his house at Rockport, and he has observed them during the whole season. They 
visit his barn and out-houses in pursuit of mice and other small prey. He shot two 
young specimens, but the old are too shy to be approached within shot. They are now 
in very fine dark plumage; the young being much lighter colored.” 
This is perhaps its most southern breeding record, and will surprise 
many ornithologists, as no other authentic and specific account exists of 
its breeding in the Eastern United States, south of Maine. It is hardly 
possible that so accurate an observer as Dr. Kirtland should have failed 
to properly identify the birds breeding with him. 
The nest is said to be placed in trees or on rocks. The eggs vary in 
size ‘‘ from 1.50 by 1.30 to 1.80 by 1.80. Coloration ranges from a nearly 
uniform deep rich brown to whitish or white, marked with a few indis- 
tinct dots of dull grayish or drab.” 
FALcO sPARVERIUS Linnezeus. 
Sparrow Hawk. 
Halco sparverius, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1338, 161, 178.— READ, Fam. Visitor, iii, 
1052, 212; Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., vi, 1853, 395 —WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. 
for 1860, 360; Reprint, 1861, 2; Food of Birds, ete., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1374, 570 ; 
Reprint, 1875, 10.—LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 12; Revised List, Journ. 
Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 179; Reprint, 13; Summer Birds, ib, iii, 1880, 225. 
Tinnunculus sparverius, KIRKPATRICK, Ohio Farmer, vii, 1858, 171; Ohio Agric. Rep. for 
1858, 348. 
Falco sparverius, LINNHUS, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 128. 
Tinnunculus sparverius, VinILLOT, Ois. Am. Sept., i, 1807, 48. 
Tarsus and quills as in columbarius. Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut patch, some- 
times small or altogether wanting, sometimes occupying nearly all the crown; conspi- 
cuous black maxillary and auricular patches, which with three others around the nape 
make seven black places in all, but a part of them often obscure or wanting; back 
cinnamon-brown, in the male with a few black spots or none, in the female with num- 
