"^Tso^''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 625 



Accipiter pallens, sp. iiov. 



Diagnosis. — Adult female, similar to Accipiter nisus, but u{)pcr sur- 

 face much lighter and grayer, being a light gray (about averaging like 

 Ridgway's gray, no. 8, pi. ii, Nom. (>)1.). 



Habitat. — Japan. 



Type. — Science College Museum No. 2192; Prov. Hitachi, Japan; 

 Jan., 1892. 



With an abundant material of sparrow hawks {A. nisus) from the 

 British Islands, the continent of Europe, India, Korea, and Japan, 

 consequently covering the entire west-to-east range of that species, I 

 can discover no approach to a coloring of the upper parts such as the 

 present bird shoAvs; nor can I find in the very extensive literature on 

 the variations of Accipiter nisus any reference to a similar specimen.* 

 Taking a large series of specimens of the corresi)onding age and sex, 

 there is but slight difference in the coloration of the upper parts, and 

 in the series before me, ranging from England in the west, to JaiJan in 

 the east, it is impossible to jnck out any specimens showing a decided 

 difference from the average. 



The bird, however, which I have ventured to give a new specific 

 name is not one but several shades lighter and grayer than the ordinary 

 A. nisus, grading from Kidgway's gray No. 7 (Nom. Col., pi. ii) on top 

 of the head to No. 9 on the upper tail-coverts. In addition the shaft- 

 stieaks are very dark and pronounced; the dark bands on the tail are 

 nearly obsolete; and the white band at the end of the tail is very broad 

 and conspicuous, being fully 5™'" wide. The under side is also lighter, 

 the dark crossbars being decidedly gray. In size, proportions, and 

 pattern of coloration there is no difference. 



Without seeing the specimen some ornithologists might perhaps 

 think that the paleness and grayness of this specimen is due to fading 

 or abrasion. But that is not the case. The iilumage is quite new and 

 fresh. Nor is there any apparent tendency to albinism ; the concealed 

 white spots are not abnormally large; and there are hardly any white 

 margins to tlie upper wing-coverts or tail-coverts so common in 

 specimens of A. nisus. The specimen is undoubtedly old, but age alone 

 is hardly a sufficient explanation of the fine coloration so markedly 

 different from all other specimens of A. nisus. Others might insist that 

 Ave have here to do only with an accidental individual variation, but I 

 would quote what Dr. Ijima writes me apropos of this bird: "Sparrow- 

 hawks of this color are known (though rare) to Japanese falconers 

 and are prized much more by them than the ordinary ones, as they are 

 said to be more powerful and useful." 



It would be hard to believe this bird to be a resident of Japan, to- 

 gether with the ordinary A. nisus which is common there, but as the 



* See, liowe^er, vrfcieuco at end of this article. 



Proc. N. M. 93 iU 



