FALCONID^. ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS. 17 



ceal the ground. The eggs are nearly spherical. Their average length is 1-rg- 

 inches by a breadth of 1-fe. They are not subject to much variation either in 

 size or shape. 



Since the preceding pages were printed, I have received from an attentive corre- 

 spondent, Mr. Archibald Hopkins, the sou of President Hopkins of Williams 

 College, the egg represented in Plate II, fig. 15 a. It was obtained in the neigh- 

 borhood of Williamstown, Mass., and is interesting, both as showing that this 

 Hawk, though rare in Massachusetts, does breed in certain parts of that State, and 

 also on account of its well-defined markings, and the unusual depth and distinct- 

 ness of their colors. 



A c c i p i T R i nr x . 



ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS. 



Falco atricapillus, WILSON, Am. Orn. VI, 1812, 80, pi. lii, fig. 3. 



NUTPALL, Manual, I, 1832, 85. 

 Astur atricapillus, JARDINE & SELBY, Illust. Orn. 1825, pi. cxxi. 



" " BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 5. 



CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 93. 

 Falco regalis, TEMM. PI. Col. 1827, tab. 495. 

 Falco palumbarius, BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 28. 



" AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1835, 241, pis. cxli and xxxvi. 



Accipiler palunibarius, RICH. & SWAINS. F. B. A. II, 1831, 39. 

 Datdalion piclum, LESS. Traite d'Orn. I, 1831, 67. 

 Astur palumbarius, AUD. Syn. 1839, p. 18. 



" " " Birds of Am. I, 1840, 95, pi. xxiii. 



VULG. The Goshawk. American Goshawk. Ash-colored Hawk. Black-cap Hawk. Au- 

 tour Royal. 



IN regard to the distribution of the American Goshawk, much remains to be 

 learned. It has nowhere been ascertained to be at any time common, and is only 

 known to breed in the extreme northern parts of the United States. Dr. Gambel 

 did not meet with it in California. The only known instance, at the time of my 

 writing, of its occurrence near the Pacific coast, is that of a specimen in Dr. Suckley's 

 collection, from the Columbia River, 1 and another from Steilacoom, Puget's Sound. 

 It is chiefly found in the United States in winter. Sir John Richardson obtained 

 a few specimens in the fur regions, and it appears to be not uncommon in New 

 Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 2 Maine, Northern New York, Ohio, and even Pennsyl- 



1 Since the above was in type, I have learned from my friend, Mr. Cassin, that six specimens of the 

 Astur atricapillus have been brought in the Government collections made by the Pacific Railroad Survey 

 parties. These were collected by Dr. Suckley, in Washington Territory, or by Dr. J. G. Cooper, at 

 Slioalwater Bay. 



2 While these sheets are passing through the press, Professor Baird has favored me with a list of the 



3 



