ACC1PITRES — FALCONIDjE — ASTUR. 17 



GENUS ASTUR. Bechstein. 



Edge of the upper mandible with an obtuse lobe, succeeded by abroad sinus. Tarsi moderate 

 or slender, scutellate before and behind, feathered one third of their length. Third toe 

 longest, connected at base by a membrane. Wings broad ; fourth and fifth primaries 

 longest. Tail rounded, long. 



THE SLATE-COLORED HAWK. 



ASTUR FUSCUS. 

 PLATE II. FIG. 2 (YouNO MALE). v 



(STATE COLLECTION. Old female and young.) 



Falcofuscus. Gmelin. 



F. velox. Wils. Orn. Vol. 5, p. 116, pi. 45, fig. 1 (young female). 



F. pennsylvanicus. Id. lb. Vol. 6, p, 13. pi. 46, fig. 1 (adult male). 



F. fuscus. Bonap. Am. Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 443. 



Accipiter velox. AUDUBON, folio, pi. 364. 



Accipiter fuscus. Bonap. Gcog. ami Comp. List, p. 5. 



Sharp-shmned Hawk. Aud. B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 100, pi. 25 (male and female). 



Astur fuscus. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 19. 



Characteristics. Slate-colored above. Tail with four dark bands, tipped with white. 

 Beneath whitish, with interrupted rusty bars. Tarsus very slender. 

 Length, 10- 14 inches. 



Description. Wings about three inches shorter than the tail, which is nearly even, slightly 

 emarginate. Tarsus very slender, compressed, two inches long. Female much larger than 

 the male. 



Color. Bluish grey above. Dark spots on the under side of the wings. Irides red. Feet 

 yellow. Chin and throat white, with a few dark streaks. Breast and all beneath with light 

 brown interrupted bars, assuming the shape of arrow-head spots. Tail with 3-5 dark bars ; 

 the last broadest. Tip of the tail white ; its underside white, with interrupted light brown 

 bars. Young: Brown above, spotted with white ; beneath white; each feather with an oblong 

 brown spot. 



Length, 10-0- 15*0. Alar extent, 20-0-25-0. 



This swift and daring little hawk ranges from the 54th degree of north latitude to Mexico. 

 It breeds in the Western States, laying from 4-5 white eggs thickly covered with reddish 

 blotches, and is noted for its attacks on the poultry yard. It feeds on birds, reptiles and 

 insects. Peculiar to America. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 3 



