FALCO LEVERMNUS?* 



AMERICAN BUZZARD. 



[Plate LIL Fig. 2.] 



PEALE'S Museum., JVo. 400. 



IT is with some doubt and hesitation that I introduce the 

 present as a distinct species from the preceding. In their size 

 and general aspect they resemble each other considerably; yet 

 I have found both males and females among each; and in the 

 present species I have sometimes found the ground colour of 

 the tail strongly tinged with ferruginous, and the bars of dusky 

 but slight; while in the preceding, the tail is sometimes wholly 

 red brown, the single bar of black near the tip excepted; in other 

 specimens evident remains of numerous other bars are visible. 

 In the meantime both are figured, and future observations may 

 throw more light on the matter. 



This bird is more numerous than the last; but frequents the 

 same situations in winter. One, which was shot in the wing, 

 lived with me several weeks; but refused to eat. It amused it- 

 self by frequently hopping from one end of the room to the 

 other; and sitting for hours at the window, looking down on 

 the passengers below. At first, when approached by any per- 

 son, he generally put himself in the position in which he is 

 represented; but after some time he became quite familiar, per- 

 mitting himself to be handled, and shutting his eyes as if quite 

 passive. Though he lived so long without food, he was found 

 on dissection to be exceedingly fat, his stomach being enveloped 

 in a mass of solid fat of nearly an inch in thickness. 



* Falco borealis. Wilson's suspicions of this and the preceding being the 

 same bird, have be"en confirmed by Prince Musignano. This is the young, the 

 preceding the adult bird. 



