Sub-Family ACCIPITRIN.'E, The Hawks. 



Char. Form rather long and slender : tail and legs long ; wings rather .short ; 

 bill short, hooked ; upper mandible with a rounded lobe instead of a tooth. 



Forty or fifty species are known, distributed throughout the 

 elobe. 



& 



Genus ASTUR, Lacepede. 



Gen. Char. Size rather long but slender ; wings rather short ; tail long ; tarsi long, 

 covered in front with rather wide transverse scalae ; toes and claws moderate, the latter much 

 curved and sharji ; bill short ; nostrils large, ovate. 



About twelve species are known, inhabiting the forests of all 

 countries. (Cassin.) One only is found in North America. 



Astur Atricapillus, (IVils.) Jard. 



THE AMERICAN GOSHAWK. 

 PI-ATE.S VI & VII. 



This is undoubtedly the largest, and in mature plumage, the 

 most beautiful of all our Hawks. It is also known as the "Ash- 

 colored" or "Black-cap Hawk," and occasionally as the "Black 

 Hawk "and "Partridge Hawk." It is not an abundant species, 

 although rather universally distributed over British America 

 and the northern portions of the United States. In Canada 

 it is a resident bird, and is met with more or less during every 

 month of the year. In winter, however, the individuals are 

 few, and consequently we may conclude that the majority are 

 migratory, spending their winters not in the Southern, but in the 

 more favorable portions of the Middle, Northern and Eastern 

 States. According to numerous local lists which I have e.xamined, 

 the southern range of the Goshawk is from Maryland to Ohio, 

 Kentucky, Kansas and California. In the fur countries it is met 

 with to the shores of the Arctic Sea, but is rare in the extreme 

 latitudes. Bernard Ross, of the McKenzie River district, gives 

 it in his list as the " Black Hawk," and states that it is found 

 northward to Fort Good Hope, but that it is rare. On the 



