FALCONID^ — THE HAWKS — ASTUR. 467 



This little hawk much resembles A. Cooperii in habits, allowing for the 

 oreat difference in its size. The eggs are said Ijy Audubon to lie fuur or 

 five, <frayish-^\■Ilite, blotclied with reddish-ln-own ; the nest is built in a tree. 

 He found another in a hole in a rock, composed of a few sticks, and lined 

 with grass, while in one case the eggs were deposited on rotten wood in a 

 hollow branch. 



They probably breed more generally towards the southern and lower parts 

 of the State than that species, as I have seen a few of them (or perhaps A. 

 Mexicanus) in the warmer months, and they are known to build in the ]\lid- 

 dle Atlantic States. 



They are generally found iu the woods, flying short tlistances, and poun- 

 cing on their- prey from some perch or a low branch. On the Sierra Nevada 

 I have seen one pursuing a striped squirrel, coming down with a zigzag 

 course as if to prevent it from escaping, by appearing on aU sides of it at 

 once. They frequently take young chickens, and have been seen by NuttaU 

 to drive away a red-tail hawk from the vicinity of their nest with aU the 

 corn-age of the king-bird. They occasionally soar upward to a great height, 

 apparently for pleasure, like other hawks, and, though their wings are short, 

 seem to ascend with very little effort ; wliile near the earth their flight is by 

 rapid flappings and short sailings, as if laborious. 



Genus ASTUR, Lacepede. 



Astur, LAcfePEDE, Mom. Inst. III. 1800, 506. 



Gex. Cii.\u. Size rather large but slender; wings rather short ; tail long ; tarsi long, 

 covered in front with rather wide transverse scales ; toes and claws moderate, the latter 

 nuich curved and sharp. Bill short, nostrils large, ovate. 



About twelve species are known, inhabiting the forests of all countries. 

 (Cassin.) 



Astur atricapillus, Wilson. 



THE AMERICAN GOSHA-WK. 



Fako atricapillus, Wilson", Am. Oni. VI. 1812, 8U ; ]jl. 52, f. .3. — ^ls(Hr atricapillus, BoxA- 

 TARTE, Obs. Cuvicr Res. An. 3.3. — Nuttall, Man. I. 87. — Newberry, P. R. Rep. 

 VI. iv. 74. — Cassix, p. R. Rep. Bird.'!, IX. 15. — Lord, Pr. R. Art. Inst. Woolwich, 

 IV. 1860, 110. — Cooper .ind Suckley, XII. ii. Zool. of W. T. 144. 



Falco (Asliir ?) puhimlmrius, AuDUBOx, Birds Amer. pi. 141 : oct. cd. I. pi. 23. (Xot of Lin- 

 na:us, European species.) 



Sp. Chap,. Top of head, hind neck, and a line behind eve, black, gener.illy tinged with 

 ashv. Other upjier parts dark slate-color ; shafts of feathers black, and frequently their 



