VOL. LXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRAKSACTIONS. ... 331 



is about an inch and half long, thinly beset with hairs, brown atove, and 

 yellowish below. If this species had no tail, he would take it to be the minute 

 shrew, which the Rev. Mr. Laxman found in Siberia, and which is the sorex 

 minutus. Linn. 



XXIX. An Account of the Birds sent from Hudson s Bay, with Observations 

 relative to their Natural Historij; and Latin Descriptions* of some of the most 

 uncommon. By J. Forster, F. R. S., p. 382. i 



I. Land- Birds. 1. Accipitres, Rapacious. Faun. Am. Sept. 

 1. Falco, Falcon. I. Columbarius. 128, 21. Pigeon Hawk. Faun. Am. 

 Sept. p. 9. Catesby 1. t. 3. Epervier de la Caroline. Brisson i. p. 378. 

 Severn river, N° 1 9. 



This species is called a small bird hawk at Hudson's Bay. It is migratory, 

 arriving near Severn river, in May, breeding on the coast, and then retiring to 

 a warmer climate in autumn. It feeds on small birds; and, on the approach of 

 any person, will fly in circles, making a hideous shrieking noise. The breast and 

 belly are yellowish, with brown streaks, which are not mentioned by the ornitho- 

 logists, though their descriptions answer in other respects. It weighs 6 ounces 

 and a half, its length is lOf, the breadth 22 J-. Catesby's figure is a very 

 indifferent one. 



Falco, 2. Spadiceus. New species. Chocolate falcon. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 9. 

 This species at first sight bears some resemblance to the European moor 

 buzzard, or aeruginosus, Linn, but is much less, and wants the light spots on 

 the head and shoulders. No number or description was sent along with it. 



Falco, 3. Sacer, Brisson, i. p. 337- Sacre de BufFon, oiseaux, (edition in 

 12mo.) Tom. 11. p. 349, t. 14. Faun. Am. Sept. p. 9. Severn river, N" 16. 

 Speckled partridge hawk, at Hudson's Bay. The name is derived from its 

 feeding on the birds of the grous tribe, commonly called partridges, at Hudson's 

 Bay. Its irides are yellow, and the legs blue. It comes nearest the sacre of 

 Brisson, BufFon, and Belon ; but Buflx)n says it has black eyes, which is very in- 

 distinct ; for the irides are black in none of the falcons, and in few other birds ; 

 and the pupil, if he means that, is black in all birds. It is said by Belon to 

 come from Tartary and Russia, and is therefore probably a northern bird. It is 

 very voracious and bold, catching partridges out of a covey, which the Europeans 

 are driving into their nests. It breeds in April and May. Its young are ready 

 to fly in the middle of June. Its nests, as those of all other falcons, are built 

 in unfrequented places ; therefore the author of the account from Severn river 



* The birds described by Mr. Foster being all introduced into Mr. Latham's ornithological volumes, 

 under the same titles, it becomes unnecessary to give the Latin descriptions, which are therefore here 

 Emitted. 



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