252 General Notes. [^J* 



cooperi never (as far as my observation goes and I have examined 

 many) has "the lines separating the tarsal scutella obliterated." — R. R., 

 Smith. Inst., Feb. 5, 189-4. 



"We have quite a number of adult Accipiter cooperi in the Museum, 

 but none show the fusion of the tarsi so complete as to have the lines of 

 the individual scales obliterated." — II. Nehrling, Milwaukee, Wise, 

 April 28, 1894. 



'■''Accipiter cooperi, No. 756, Collection University of Minn., $ ad., 

 Minneapolis, Minn. Scutella of tarsi completely fused but showing 

 distinct transverse markings or furrows where the scales come together. 

 Not fused near the tarso-metatarsal joint."- — T. S. R., March 10, 1894. 



It will thus be seen that incomplete fusion occurs in Massachusetts, 

 complete fusion in Minnesota, and obliteration in Texas. Mr. Wm. 

 Brewster implies obliteration in a specimen I sent him from this region. 

 In my earlier notes my records do not discriminate between fusion and 

 obliteration, and the specimens (if preserved) have passed from .my 

 hands. The following entries are from my notes : — 



"Nov. 5, 1885. One shot from my front gate post. Scales of tarsi fused. 



"March 2, 18S7. D. F. Ragsdale shot one with scales of tarsi fused. 



"Feb. 28, 1889. $ ad., Gainesville, Tex., Coll. Wm. Brewster, state of 

 fusion complete: obliteration implied in epistle. 



"Dec. 5, 1S93. Ad. $ shot with tarsal scutella obliterated ; moulting 

 rectrices. Coll. G. II. R." 



I should state that the obliteration in the specimen now in mv collec- 

 tion does not extend to the tarso-metatarsal scales. 



It would be interesting to know what per cent, of adult specimens from 

 Texas have the transverse lines obliterated. It would be still more inter- 

 esting to know the cause of such disappearance. — George II. Ragsdale, 

 Gainesville, Texas. 



[The variance in the views expressed by Mr. Ragsdale's correspondents 

 seems to depend upon the definition of the term 'fused.' Mr. Ragsdale 

 himself clearly appreciates the difference between 'fusion' and 'oblitera- 

 tion' of the tarsal scales but he evidently did not emphasize this difference 

 in making his inquiries. 



In quite young specimens of Accipiter cooperi the tarsus is distinctly 

 scutellate, the scales, especially those at the distal extremity of the tarsus, 

 being more or less imbricated. 



In adults the scutella are fused on partially anchylosed and the tarsal 

 envelope then becomes entire. In none of our sixteen adult specimens, 

 however, have I observed the complete obliteration of the lines of fusion, 

 or change from a scutellate to a booted tarsus which Mr. Ragsdale 

 reports, though in several examples, notably one from New Jersey, the 

 outlines of the scales are nearly obsolete. — Frank M. Chapman, Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History, Nezv Tork City.~\ 



