270 HISTORY OF THE 



Breast with large, longitudinal but very irregular oblong spots of dark brown, 

 these largest and somewhat confluent laterally; lower part of breast with much 

 less numerous and less longitudinal spots; tibiae strongly tinged with rusty, and 

 with tarsus, abdomen, crissum and flanks having irregular transverse spots of 

 blackish brown; lower tail coverts unvariegated. Lining of wing white, with 

 numerous spots of black, these becoming more rusty towards the axillars, a 

 large space of continuous clear black covering the under primary coverts and 

 the coverts immediately anterior; under surface of primaries and secondaries 

 pure white, the former becoming black at ends, the latter ashy; no bars (except 

 toward shafts) of the latter. Fourth quill longest; the third equal to fifth; sec- 

 ond intermediate between fifth and sixth; first equal to eighth. Young: Upper 

 surface generally light umber, becoming lighter on scapulars and middle wing 

 coverts, but showing nowhere any trace of spots or bands; wings, scapulars and 

 back with blackish shaft streaks; primaries approaching black toward ends, 

 becoming white basally; upper tail coverts white, with a hastate stripe of brown 

 along shaft; tail, basal half white, terminal half plain drab, becoming darker 

 tenninally, the tip narrowly white. Head, neck, and lower plumage in general, 

 white stained with ochraceous, this deepest on tibiae and tarsi; head and neck 

 streaked with dark brown, ear coverts almost immaculate; breast with oblong 

 spots of clear brown; flanks, abdomen and anal region continuous uniform rich 

 purplish vandylie brown, forming a conspicuous transverse belt; tibiae and tarsi 

 scarcely varied, the few markings longitudinal; lower tail coverts immaculate. 

 Under side of wing much as in adult (black area, however, moi'e extended), 

 lining much tinged with rufous, and with loiigitudinal streaks of dark brown. 

 Adult, melanistic condition: General plumage blackish brown, the head streaked 

 with whitish edges of the feathers; wing coverts, secondaries, primaries and 

 tibial plumes paler terminally; tarsi mottled with whitish; upper and lower tail 

 coverts tipped obscurely with white. Tall narrowly tipped dull white, and with 

 about five very obsolete pale ashy bands. Lining of wing black, spotted with 

 white near edges; whole under surface of the primaries pure white anterior to 

 their emargination, beyond which they are black. Third and fourth quills equal 

 and longest; second intermediate between fifth and sixth; first shorter than 

 seventh. Young: Similar, but the tail dusky, growing whitish toward the base, 

 and without any bars." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill, Cere. 



Male 21.00 52.00 16.25 8.75 2.70 .85 .40 



Female... 23.00 53.00 17.00 9.25 2.80 .90 .40 



Iris brown (of two birds captured, jellow); bill dark horn 

 blue, light at base; cere and feet yellow; claws black. 



This large, powerfully built Hawk usually frequents the cul- 

 tivated fields and low bottom lands along the streams skirted 

 with timber. A rather sluggish bird (more active at twilight 

 than during the day), that does not appear to have the courage 

 to attack animals more formidable than rabbits, squirrels, go- 

 phers, mice, etc., for which they course over the ground, or 



