28 Synopsis of the Birds 



American Spar row-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Wils. Am, 

 Orn. ii. p. 117. pi. 16. jig. i. female, and iv. p. 57. pl> 32. 

 *ig. 2« male. 



Inhabits throughout North and South America, except in 

 high northern latitudes : wintering in the southern states. 



11. Falco columbarius, L. Dusky; beneath whitish, with 

 blackish stripes ; tail with four narrow white bands. 



Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p- 

 I01.pl. i .Jig. 3. 



Inhabits the south of the United States ; extending its mi- 

 grations as far north as Hudson's Bay. 



** Bill with an obtuse lobe each side. 



SUBGENUS V. ASTUR. 



Astur, Bechst. Cuv. Dmdalion, Savigny. Autours, Temm, 



Accipiter, (afterwards Sparvius), Vieill. 



Bill strong ; lobe of the upper mandible well defined : 

 nostrils rounded or somewhat oval and oblique. Tarsi rather 

 elongated, scutellated ; middle toe much longer than the 

 lateral ; outer connected at base by a membrane, shorter than 

 the inner : nails long, much incurved, very acute. Wings 

 short ; first primary considerably shorter than the second ; 

 fourth longest. 



Female similar in colour, but a full third larger than the male. 



Bold ; sanguinary ; skimming the earth with great rapidity 

 of flight ; seize their prey upon the wing, but never falling 

 upon it from on high, nor soaring into the elevated regions 

 of the atmosphere ; and only describing wide circles in the air 

 in the season of their loves. 



f Tarsi rather short and robust, (Asturts, auct.) 



12. Falco palumbarius, L. Blackish ; eyebrows whitish ; tail 

 fasciated with paler ; cere livid yellow. 



