FALCONIDJE — A CCIPITMIN^ : HA WKS. 



527 



ACCI'PITER. (hilt. aceij)iter, a hawk. Fig. 368.) Sharp-shinned Hawks. Tarsi feathered 

 about i way down iu frout, or less (in Astur about ^ way), and quite slender (whence the term 

 " sliarp-shinned ") ; in one species prominently and continuously scutellate before and behind, 

 the scutellation continued on to the toes ; in the other the same, or finally fused in a continuous 

 "boot." Toes long, slender, the outer one much webbed at base and padded underneath j 

 inner claw much larger than the middle one, ajjproximately equalling the hind claw; height 



Fig. 369. —Acciplter nisus of Europe, adult J", i nat. size; not distinguishable in a cnt from our Sharp- 

 Bhinned Hawk ; taken as of i nat. size it would represent Cooper's Hawk just as well ; at J it would do duty for a 

 Goshawk. (From Brehm.) 



of bill at base greater than chord of culmen ; 4th and 5th quills longest, 3d and 6th next, 

 2d shorter than 6th, 1st very short. The two following species are exactly alike in color; one 

 is a miniature of the other. The ordinary plumage is dark brown above (deepest on the head, 

 the occipital feathers showing white when disturbed), with an ashy or plumbeous shade which 

 increases with age, till the general cast is quite bluish-ash ; below, white or Whitish, variously 

 streaked with dark brown and rusty, finally changing to brownish-red (palest behind and 



