BIRDS — BUTEONINAE— ARCIIIBUTEO SANCII-JOHANNIS. 



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This is one of tlie few North American birds which appear to he absolutely identical with a 

 species of Europe. In both adult and young plumage, as described above, there are no char- 

 acters whatever, so far as we can see, by which this bird can he distinguished from A. lagopus 

 of Europe, and this identity is even more perfect in specimens from western North America. 



We regard the plumage first described above as undoubtedly the adult of this species^ though 

 it has never been given as such by any American author. It corresponds precisely, so far as we 

 can see, with specimens from Europe in that stage of plumage well understood to be the adult of 

 A. lagopus by all the German ornithologists, though apparently unknown to those of more 

 southern and western Eurojie, and is figured in their works above cited. The regarding of this 

 species as the young of A. sancti-johannis, which has been done to some extent by American 

 naturalists, is assuredly erroneous. 



The figure in Audubon's plate, cited above, (B. of Am., ])l. 422, fig. 2,) may be regarded as 

 very probably representing the adult of this bird, though so distorted in drawing and exagge- 

 rated in color as to be very difficult of recognition. The best figure that we have seen of the 

 adult is that in Nauman's work, above cited. The young is well represented by various 

 authors, American and European^ as given above. 



List of specimens. 



ARCHIBUTEO SANCTI-JOHANNIS, Gmelin. 



The Black Hawk. 



Falco sancti-johannis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273, (1788.) 

 Fako spadiceus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273, (1788.) 

 Falco novce-terra, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 274, (1788.) 

 Falco niger, Wilson, Am. Orn, VI, p. 83, (1312.) 

 Buteo ater, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. IV, p. 482, (181C.) 



FiGDRES.— Wilson Am. Orn. VI, pi. 53, figs. 1, 2 ; And. B. of Am. pi. 422, fig. 1 ; pi. 166, (young.>) 



Jldult. — Ejitire^plumage glossy black in many specimens with a brown tinge ; forehead, throat, and large partially concealed 

 siiot on occiput, white. Tail with one transverse well defined band of white, and irregularly marked towards the base with the 

 same color. Quills with their inner webs white, readily seen from below. Cere and toes yellow. Tarsi densely feathered in 

 front ; naked behind. Other specimens aie entirely dark chocolate brown, with the head more or less striped witli yellowish 

 white and reddish yellow. Tail with several transverse bands of white, more or less imperfect and irregular. 



Young. — Upper parts light umber brown, with the feathers more or less edged with dull white and reddish yellow. Abdomen 

 with a broad transverse band of brownish black ; other under parts pale yellowish white, with longitudinal stripes of brownish 

 black, frequently giving the predominating color on tho breast and sides ; wings and tail brown, tinged with cinereous, the 



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