IO4 FALCONID^E I HAWKS. 



was shot in neither of these cases, we presume there 

 could be no mistake in identifying an individual of so 

 remarkable a species. 



SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 

 ACCIPITER FUSCUS (Gm.) Bp. 



Chars. Bill short, stout, very high at base for its length, without 

 tooth. Legs extremely slender. Tarsus feathered but a little 

 way down in front, the bare portion longer than the middle toe ; 

 tarsal scutella frequently fused. Toe, long, slender, much webbed 

 at base, and padded underneath. Fourth quill longest, second 

 shorter than sixth, first very short. The ordinary plumage is 

 dark brown above (deepest on the head, the occipital feathers 

 showing white when disturbed) with an ashy or plumbeous shade 

 which increases with age, till the general cast is quite bluish-ash ; 

 below, white or whitish, variously streaked with dark brown and 

 rusty, finally changing to brownish-red (palest behind and slightly 

 ashy across the breast) with the white then only showing in nar- 

 row cross-bars ; chin, throat, and crissum mostly white with 

 blackish pencilling ; wings and tail barred with ashy and brown 

 or blackish, the quills white-barred basally, the tail whitish- 

 tipped. Bill dark ; claws black ; cere and feet yellow. Length 

 of male, 10.00-12.00; extent, 22.00; wing, 6.00-7.00; tail, 5.00- 

 6.00 square ; female an inch or two longer, and correspond- 

 ingly larger in other dimensions. 



This spirited and dashing little Hawk is one of New 

 England's common species, especially in the breeding 

 season ; for it chiefly withdraws from our limits during 

 the colder months, probably not passing the winter 

 except in our southern districts. It is commonly known 

 as the " Pigeon Hawk ; " but that name belongs prop- 

 erly to the small species of Falco (not Accipiter) de- 



