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AMERICAN BUZZARD. 61 



with dark brown ; across the belly a band of interrupted spots of brown ; 

 chin white ; femorals and vent pale brownish white, the former marked 

 with a few minute heart-shaped spots of brown ; legs yellow, feathered 

 half way below the knees. 



This was a male. Another specimen shot within a few days after, 

 agreed in almost every particular of its color and markings with the 

 present ; and on dissection was found to be a female. 



FALCO LEVERIANUSf* 



AMERICAN BUZZARD. 



[Plate LII. Fig. 2.] 



It is with some doubt and hesitation that I introduce the present as 

 a distinct species from the preceding. In their size and general aspect 

 they resemble each other considerably ; yet I have found both males 

 and females among each ; and in the present species I have sometimes 

 found the ground color of the tail strongly tinged with ferruginous, and 

 the bars of dusky but slight ; while in the preceding, -the tail is some- 

 times wholly red brown, the single bar of black near the tip excepted ; 

 in other specimens evident remains of numerous other bars are visible.- 

 In the meantime both are figured, and future observations may throw 

 more light on the matter. 



This bird is more numerous than the last ; but frequents the same 

 situations in winter. One, which was shot in the wing, lived with me 

 several weeks ; but refused to eat. It amused itself by frequently hop- 

 ping from one end of the room to the other ; and sitting for hours at the 

 window, looking down on the passengers below. At first, when ap- 

 proached by any person, he generally put himself in the position in 

 which he is represented ; but after some time he became quite familiar, 

 permitting himself to be handled, and shutting his eyes as if quite pas- 

 sive. Though he lived so long without food, he was found on dissection 

 to be exceedingly fat, his stomach being enveloped in a mass of solid fat 

 of nearly an inch in thickness. 



The American Buzzard, or White-breasted Hawk, is twenty-two 

 inches long, 'and four feet in extent; cere pale green; bill pale blue, 

 black at the point ; eye bright straw color ; eyebrow projecting greatly ; 

 head broad, flat and large ; upper part of the head, sides of the neck 



* Falco horealis. Wilson's suspicions of this and the preceding being the same 

 bird, have been confirmed by Prince Musignano. This is the young, the preceding 

 the adult bird. 



