| OCR Text |
Show ' APPENDIX NN. 1311 PICIDJS. 41. Piciis villosu8 ( L.), var. harrisii, And.- Harris's Woodpecker. Not common in the valleys, but occasionally seen in the trees about Carson in the fall. 42. Colaptes mexkanus ( Swains.).- Red- shafted Flicker. Quite common in the valleys in summer; more numerous in fall. STRIGIDJS. 43. Otus vulgaris ( L). var. wilsonianui ( Less.)- Long- eared Owl. The only arboreal species that is at all common in the valleys. This bird is very numerous and lives the year round in the little copses of willows and the denser thickets borderiog the swampy lands. Their food consists almost exclusively of field- mice, of which tbey kill vast numbers, a fact which should earn them the protection of the farmers. 44. Speotyto cumoularia ( Mol.), var. hypugcea ( Bon.).- Burrowing Owl. * An abundant resident in some of the high pasture lands about Carson, their location being only determined by the presence of suitable burrows made by the several species of ground- squirrels ( Sptrmophilus.) FALCONIDiE. 45. Falco communis Gmel., var. anatum, Bon.- Duck Hawk. In fall making its appearance in considerable numbers along the sloughs and on the borders of the lakes, where it is always ready to capture the water- fowl disabled by the gunners. Its powers of wing are ample to enable it to overtake, in fair pursuit, any of the ducks, and many fall its victims. 46. Falco 8parveriti8 L.- Sparrow Hawk. Numerous. 47. Pan& ion halketus ( L.).- var. carolinensis, Gmel.- Fish Hawk. Common on the lakes and streams. 48. Circus oyaneus ( L.). var. hudsonius, L.- Marsh Hawk. The most abundant of all the predatory birds. Exceeding numerous in the marshes. Never, I think, interfering with the water- fowl, except when wouuded, and deriving its subsistence chiefly from the smaller species of rodents. 49. Butco borealis ( Gmel.)., var. oalurua, Cass.- Western Red- tailed Hawk. Not very common, and seen in the low valleys only in fall and winter. 50. Archibutco lagopus ( Brnnn.)., var. sancti- johannis.- Rough- legged Hawk. Coming down from the mountains in considerable number* as fall approaches, and' like the Duck Hawk, making its headquarters about the sloughs and open sheets of water. Its chief dependence are mice, but it also seizes many wcunded ducks. 51. Aquila chryscetm ( L.).- Golden Eagle. Mr. Parker presented me with a specimen of this eagle, which he had killed in the fall near Carson. Its occurrence so low down is not common. 52. Iihinogryphu8 a » ra( L.).- Red- headed Vulture. Numerous about Carson, where very nseful as a scavenger. COLUMBID^. 53. Zenaidura carolinensis ( L.).- Carolina Dove. Abounds in the low valleys everywhere. |
