g species, they either
building in hollow trees, or making a rude nest of sticks and twigs in
the tops of trees. The eggs have a creamy ground and are sprinkled with
dots and blotches of various shades of brown. Size 1.60 x 1.23. The egg
figured is one of a beautiful set of four in the collection of Mr. C. W.
Crandall.

[Illustration 222: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: Pigeon Hawk.]
[Illustration: Richardson's Pigeon Hawk.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 221

358.1 MERLIN. _Falco aesalon._

This common European species was once accidentally taken in southern
Greenland. Their eggs are generally laid on the ground on cliffs or
banks.

359. APLOMADO FALCON. _Falco fusco-caerulescens._

Range.--Tropical America north to Mexican boundary of the United States.

This handsome and strikingly marked Falcon is found in limited numbers
within the United States, but south is common and widely distributed.
They nest at a low elevation, in bushes or small trees, making their
rude nests of twigs, lined with a few grasses. They lay three, and
sometimes four, eggs which have a creamy white ground color, finely
dotted with cinnamon, and with heavy blotches of brown. Size 1.75 x
1.30.

359.1. KESTREL. _Falco tinnunculus._

Range.--Whole of Europe; accidental on the coast of Massachusetts.

This species is very similar in size and coloration to the American
Sparrow Hawk. They are much more abundant than the Sparrow Hawk is in
this country and frequently nest about houses, in hollow trees, on
rafters of barns, or on ledges and embankments. Their eggs are of a
reddish buff color, speckled and blotched with reddish brown, they being
much darker than those of the American Sparrow Hawk.

360a. Desert Sparrow Hawk. _Falco sparverius phalaena._

Range.--Western United States from British Columbia south to Mexico.

This variety is slightly larger and paler than the eastern form. There
are no differences in the identification of the two varieties.

[Illustration 223: Buff.]
[Illustration: Aplomado Falcon. Desert Sparrow Hawk.]
[Illustration: Reddish buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 222

360. SPARROW HAWK. _Falco sparverius._

Range.--North America, east of the Rocky Mountains and north to Hudson
Bay; winters from the middle portions of the United States, southward.

This beautiful little Falcon is the smallest of the American Hawks,
being only 10 inches in length. They are very abundant in the