504. 
505. 
ay 
' 
30 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— RAPTORES — ACCIPITRES. 
parts brownish or blackish, in either case wigggmt the glaucous bloom and appearance of 
transverse markings which the adults show, the variegation being chiefly 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., seareely 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, ete., 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, ete. 
F, p. peal'ii? (To T. R. Peale.) PEALE’s PEREGRINE. A dark form, described from the 
N. W. coast. Dubious. 
F. columba’rius. (Lat. colwmbarius, a pigeon-fancier.) PiGEoN HAwk (a name also ap- 
plied to Accipiter fuscus). Smaller than any of the foregoing ; about the size of an Accipi- 
ter fuscus, but much stouter and differently proportioned. Tarsus mostly with a double row 
of alternating seutella in front, feathered but a little way down; middle toe without claw 
nearly as long as tarsus. Tail about } the wings, lightly rounded. Wings pointed by 2d and 
3d quills, Ist about equal to 4th; Ist and 2d emarginate on inner webs near the end; 
2d and 3d sinuate on outer webs. Sexes unlike; old ¢ bluish above, 9 and young dark 
there. Old @: Above, some shade of bluish, from 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 band 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; these 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 defined light superciliary 
streak ; markings of side of head confluent on nape, forming a nuchal band 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 238.50; wing 7.50-8.00; tail 5.00-5.50; tarsus 
1.35; middle toe without claw 1.25. Adult 9, and specimens of either sex, as usually 
observed: Pattern of coloration as before, but upper parts and tail quite different. Above, 
the bluish shade replaced by dark umber-brown, nearly uniform, or only interrupted by tie 
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 
all 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 
whitish. Under parts as before, but the ground color ranging from nearly whi quite rich 
buff 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- 
