338 ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS, AMERICAN GOSHAWK. 



trate any great distance into the British possessions, like its smaller 

 relative, the Sharp-shjnned ; and I have found no indication whatever 

 of its jnTsenee far north. It is abundant in most parts of the Unite<l 

 States ; i)articularly so in New England, where it is perha])s tbe most 

 numerous of all tbe birds of prey. It appears to breed indifferently in 

 all suitable jdaces throughout its United States range 5 and, to judge 

 by the well-known rule of difference in size according to latitu<le, it is a 

 resident bird. Gulf-coast examples average about two and a half inches 

 smaller than others from New England. Possessed of spirit commen- 

 surate with its physical powers, it preys upon game little if any humbler 

 than that of our more powerful Falcons. It attacks and destroys hares, 

 Grouse, Teal, and even the young of larger Ducks, in the state in which 

 they are known as ' flappers," besides capturing the usual variety of 

 smaller birds and quadrupeds. It occasionally seizes upon reptiles or 

 picks up insects. In securing its prey it gives chase openly, and dives 

 down on its quarry with almost incredible velocity. Its ordinary flight 

 is rapid, easy, and soaring, performed with alternate flapping and sail- 

 ing. When brought down winged, it shows undaunted front, and fights 

 desperately to the last gasp. 



ASTUE ATRICAPILLUS, (Wils.) Jard. 

 The American Goshawk. 



FaJco airicavmus,Wii.s., Am. Oru. vi, 1812, 80, pi. 52, f. 3.— Wagl., Isis, 1831, .517.— NuTT., 

 Man. i, 1832, 8.').— Peab., Rep. Orii. Mass. 77.— Thomps., Nat. Hist. Veruiout, 62. 



Eierofalco atricapUlus, Cuv., E. A. 2d ed. i, 323. 



Sparvius atricapiUns, Vieill., Eucy. Meth. iii, 1823, p. 1266. 



Astur atrimpUlus, Jakd. «fc Selby, Illnst. 1825, pi. 121. — Bp., Comp. List, 1838, 5; Consp. 

 i, 1850, 31.— Kaup, Mouog. Falc, 1850, 66.— CAgs., HI. 1854,93; Pr. Pbila. Acad. 

 1855, 279.— Brew., N. Aui. Ool, 1857, 17.— Newb., P. R. R. Rep. 18.57, vi, 74.— 

 Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 15.— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 1360, 144.— Lord, 

 Pr. Roy. Arty. lust, iv, 110 (British Columbia). — Wheat., Ohio Agric. Rep. I860, 

 No. 6.— Cou'es & Prext., Smiths. Rep. 1861, 401 (Washiugtou, D. C, very 

 rare, in- wiuter).— Blak., Ibis, iii, 1861, 316. — Boardm., Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 

 122 (Calais, Me. ; resident, common, breeds). — Verr., Pr. Ess. Inst, iii, 1862, 

 141 (Norway. Me.; I'esideut, common, breeds). — Allen, Pr. Ess. In.st. iv, 1864, 

 50 (Massachusetts, winter). — McIlwr., Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1866, 80 (Hamilton, 

 Canada West, rather rare). — Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 255. — Lawr., Ann. 

 Lye. N. Y. viii, 1866, 280 (New York).— Turkb., B. E. P.i. 1869, 6 (rare).— Dall 

 & Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 271 (Alaska, common, resident).— Coop., B. 

 Cat. i, 1870, 467 (Sierra Nevada).— Snow, B. Kans. 1873 (rare).— Mayx., Pr. 

 Bost. Soc. xiv, 1871 (Northern New England, common, resident). — Finscii, Abb. 

 Nat. iii, 1872, 26 (Alaska).— Coues, Key, 1872, 212. 



Falco pahimhariii^i, Bp., Syu. 1828, 28; Isis, 1832, 1137.— AUD., Orn. Biog. ii, 241, pi. 141. 



Accipitir palumharius, Sw. & Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 39, pi. 26. 



Astur palumbarius, AuD., Syn. 1839, 18 ; B. Am. i, 1840, 95, pi. 23.— GiR., B. L. I, 1844, 18. 



Astur palnmlmrUiH var. atrlmpiUus, RiDGW., Pr. Bost. Soc. xvi, 1874,57. — B. B. «fe R., 

 N. A. B., iii, 1874, 237. 



Astur palumbarius var. striatulus,'RiT>GW. — B. B. &. R., N. A. B. iii, 1874, 240. 



Faico reijatis, Temm., Planches Coloriees, No. 495. 



DcedaUoii pictum, Less., Traite d'Ornith. i, 1831, 67 (see Pucker., R. Z. 1850, 211). 



Hob. — British America, and the Northern half of the United States — the latter chiefly 

 in wiuter ; farthest south along the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada {'^ striaiulus"). 



List of specimens. 



19115 



Deer Creek Mar. 28, 1860 



G. H.Trook.. 24.50 



44.50 



14.00 



Late Expeditions.— hS^S2, Colorado. 



It is still a question whether the American Goshawk is specifically distinct from that 

 of Europe. Authorities are about etjually divided in opinion, aud both sides speak 

 with little, it any, reserve. My own comparisons have not been sufficiently extensive ; 



