536 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES — A CCIPITRES. 



parts brownish or blackish, in either case without the glaucous bloom and appearance of 

 transverse markings which the adults show, the variegation being chietiy in light gray or rusty 

 edgings of individual feathers. This falcon is the central figure in the whole genus, and in 

 one or another of its geographical guises is cosmopolitan ; it is universally but irregularly dis- 

 tributed in N. Am., scarcely to be considered common anywhere ; breeds as far south as Vir- 

 ginia at least, usually in mountainous regions ; nests indifferently on trees or cliffs or the 

 ground; eggs 2-5, oftener 3-4, 2.10 to 2.35 X 1.60 to 1.75, averaging about 2.25 X 1.65; 

 white or whitish, spotted, blotched, wreathed, clouded, etc., with the reddish-browns, from 

 chocolate or even purplish to the ochres. The peregrine is a bird of noted prowess, habitually 

 striking a quarry as large as itself or larger, as grouse, ducks, herons, hares, etc. 



504. F. p. peal'ii? (To T. R. Peale.) Peale's Peregrine. A dark form, described from the 

 N. W. coast. Dubious. 



505. F. columba'rius. (Lat. columbarius, a pigeon-fancier.) Pigeon Hawk (a name also ap- 

 plied to Accipiter fuseus). Smaller than any of the foregoing ; about the size of an Accipi- 

 ter fuscus, hut much stouter and differently proportioned. Tarsus mostly with a double row 

 of alternating scutella in ft'ont, feathered but a ^ttle way down ; middle toe without claw 

 nearly as long as tarsus. Tail about f the wings, liglitly rounded. Wings pointed by 2d and 

 3d quills, 1st about equal to ith ; 1st and 2d emargiuate on inner webs near the end; 

 2d and 3d sinuate on outer webs. Sexes unlike ; old ^ bluish above, 9 ^'^'i young dark 

 there. Old <J : Above, some shade of bluish, fi-om pale bluish-gray or bluish-ash to dark 

 bluish-slate, each feather pencilled with a fine black shaft line. Tail banded with the color 

 of the upper parts and black, about three zones of each, the subterminal black baud broadest, 

 all subject to much variation ; tail tipped with white. Primaries blackish, with lighter edges 

 or tips, and numerous oval transverse spots of white or whitish on the inner webs; outer webs 

 often showing traces of ashy markings ; a similar pattern continued on the secondaries. Un- 

 der parts white, or whitish, generally pure and immaculate on the throat, elsewhere tinged with 

 tawny or ochraceous, almost everywhere longitudinally streaked with dark umber-brown; 

 the individual streaks very variable in size and distinctness, generally blackish -shafted, as a 

 rule heavy and thick on the breast, more strict on the flags and vent, changing to spots or 

 even bars on the flanks ; tliese latter markings sometimes involved in a bluish clouding. 

 Side of head with fine dark pencilling on a light or whitish ground, not gathered into a 

 maxillary stripe, but coalescing on the ear-coverts ; a pretty well <lefined light superciliary 

 streak ; markings of side of head confluent on nape, forming a nuchal baud which interrupts 

 the continuity of color of the upper parts. Iris brown; feet yellow; claws and most of bill 

 bluish-black; cere and base of bill greenish -yellow. This plumage is comparatively seldom 

 seen. Length about 11.00; extent about 23.50; wing 7-50-8.00; tail 5.00-5.50; tarsus 

 1.35; middle toe without claw 1.25. Adult ?, and specimens of either sex, as usually 

 observed : Pattern of coloration as before, but upper parts and tail quite difierent. Above, 

 the bluish shade replaced by dark umber-brown, nearly uniform, or only interrupted by the 

 nuchal band of streaks, but the feathers usually with appreciably paler edges, and black shaft- 

 lines, the latter especially on the head. Tail like back, and tipped with white, and crossed by 

 about four other narrow whitish or light ochraceous bands, formed of bars or transverse spots 

 on both webs of the feathers ; the uppermost of these bands lying under the coverts ; there are 

 generally only three exposed ones, besides the terminal one ; the intervening dark zones are 

 aU of about the same width, say an inch, but the subterminal one is usually rather wider than 

 the others. Pattern of quill-feathers as in the <?, but the spots rather tawny or fulvous than 

 M'hitish. Under parts as before, but the ground color ranging from nearly white to quite rich 

 buflf or even fulvous, and showing a wide range of variation in the heaviness of the streaking. 

 Length of 9 about 12.50; extent about 26.50; wing 8.00-8.50; tail 5.50-6.00. In quite 

 young birds, the edgings of the feathers of the upper parts may be tawny or rufous. A spir- 



