have described. The F. spanerius, though a smaller bird, may be considered as
representing the F. tinmnculus of Europe in form. We met with no small
Falcons, in the northern parts of America, having long wings, like the Hobby and some other European species.
The Falco spanerius is a common bird in America, and its manners are well
known. Indeed, few Falcons are more likely to attract attention, for it is not only
a bold and familiar species, but both male and" female are very beautiful birds.
Wilson informs us that it is a constant resident in almost every part of the United
States, particularly north of Maryland. It breeds in considerable numbers on the
banks of the Saskatchewan, in the neighbourhood of Carlton House, arriving there
in the month of April, laying its eggs about the middle of May, and retiring
southward on the approach of winter. I am unable to say how far it extends its
migrations ; but I do not believe it to be a very northern species, as it was not
observed, on the route of the Expeditions, beyond the fifty-fourth degree of latitude.
It also frequents the warmer parts of America, having been perceived in Cuba by
Mr. W. M‘Leay; and it is likewise an inhabitant of South America *, Captain King
having found it at Port Famine in the Straits of Magellan f. Wilson has described
its manners with his wonted accuracy, and I cannot do greater justice to the reader than by transcribing his remarks.
“ It flies rather irregularly, occasionally suspending itself in the air, hovering
over a particular spot for a minute or two, and then shooting off in another direction.
It perches on the top of a dead tree, or pole, in the middle of a field or
meadow, and, as it alights, shuts its long wings so suddenly, that they seem
instantly to disappear. It sits here in an almost perpendicular position, sometimes
for an hour at a time, frequently jerking its tail, and reconnoitring the ground
below in every direction, for mice, lizards, &e. It approaches the farm-house,
particularly in the morning, skulking about the farm-yard, for mice or young
chickens, and frequently plunges into a thicket after small birds, as if by random; but always with a particular, and generally a fatal, aim.”
In the vicinity of Carlton House, where the plains are beautifully ornamented by
numerous small clumps of aspens, that give a rich picturesque effect to the landscape,
which I have never seen equalled even in an English park, this small Falcon
was frequently discovered perched on the most lofty tree of a clump, sitting with
his eye apparently closed, but, nevertheless, sufficiently awake to what was passing
around it, as it would occasionally evince by suddenly pouncing upon any small
* The specimens we procured during our researches in Brazil are. entirely destitute of the rufous spot on the crown ;
but those from Mexico perfectly agree with the skins brought home by Dr, Richardson.—Sw.
f Vide Zool. Jour., No. xi., pp. 425, 435.
bird that happened to come within its reach. It is the least shy of any of the American
hawks, and when on its perch will suffer the fowler to advance to the foot of
the tree, provided he has the precaution to make a slow and devious approach.
He is not, however, unnoticed; for the bird shows, by the motion of its head,
that it is carefully watching his manoeuvres ; yet, unless he walks directly towards
it, it is not readily alarmed. When at rest, its wings are closely applied
to the sides, with their tips lying over the tail about one-third from its end, and
the tail itself, being closely shut up, looks long and narrow. If its suspicions
be excited, it raises and depresses its head quickly two or three times, and
spreads its tail, but does not open its wings until the instant it takes flight.
The individuals shot at Carlton had mice or smalibirds in their stomachs. Wilson
enumerates, also, snakes, lizards, and grasshoppers, as part of its food. It is said
to make its nest in a hollow tree, and to lay four or five eggs, which are of a light
brownish-yellow colour, spotted with a darker tint*.
DESCRIPTION
Of a male, in full plumage, killed in the vicinity of Carlton House, lat. 53°, May, 1827-
Colour.—The crown of the head is occupied by a circular patch of deep orange-brown,
which is enclosed by a coronet of clear blaçkish-grey. Beneath this there are seven conspicuous
black marks ; one situated on the nape of the neck, and blending with the grey coronet,
and three on each side of the head below the level of the eye: the two anterior of these marks
form together almost two-thirds of a circle, which includes the white cheek; and the third
and smaller one, situated farther back, is surrounded by a pale-brown tint. There is a narrow
white line .between the forehead and the base of the bill, and another over the eye.
The dorsal aspect of the neck, the back, and the scapularies, are of a clear-brown colour,
considerably paler than the crown of the head ; and on the tips of the scapularies and between
the shoulders there are a few oval spots and transverse bars of black. The rump and tail
coverts are of a brighter and purer orange-brown than the crown of the head, and, like the
neck, are unspotted. The tail feathers are precisely of the same colour with their coverts ;
but a subterminal band of black crosses both webs, and they are narrowly tipped with white :
the exterior feather has a white outer web, with an undulated black line along its shaft ;
and there is a narrower interfupted black bar behind the subterminal one on the other feathers.
The lesser wing coverts and the secondary coverts are pure bluish-grey, regularly
marked with round spots about the size of peas. The bastard wing and the primary coverts
are marked alternately with black and bluish-grey. The quill feathers are brownish-black, with
black shafts, and on their inner webs there are from five to eight semi-oval white marks, regularly
alternating with narrower processes of the black. A square black patch is formed by
the bases of the outer webs of the secondaries being of that hue : their tips are bluish-grey
* Wilson, ii. p. 118.