66 THE NEW HOLLAND WHITE EAGLE. 



In color, the adult birds of both sexes are very similar to each other, the tinting of the 

 plumage being briefly as follows : The top of the head and the entire upper portions of the 

 body and wings are gray-brown, and the under portions of the body, together with a band 

 over the cheeks and the back of the neck, are nearly wliite, diversified witli numerous in-egular 

 spots, splashes, and i^artial bars of black. The cheeks and ear-coverts are dark grayish- 

 brown, the upper surface of the tail is the same hue as the back, and barred with dark brown ; 

 the under tail-coverts are white. The cere, legs, and toes are yellow, the claws black, and the 

 beak blue-black. In the female the gray brown of the back is a more ruddy hue, and in the 

 young the plumage is curiously diversified with reddish-white, buff aud gray. 



The Ajiekican Goshawk (Astur atricapillus) — Wilson says of this magnificent bird : 

 "If this be not the celebrated Goshawk, formerly so miich esteemed in falconry, it is very 

 closely allied to it." Audubon says: "His flight is extremely rapid and protracted. He 

 sweeps along the margin of the fields, through the woods, and by the edges of ponds and rivers, 

 with such speed as to enable him to seize his prey by merely deviating a few yards from his 

 course, assisting himself on such occasions by his long tail, which, like a rudder, he throws to 

 the right or the left, upwards or downwards to check his progress, or enable him suddenly 

 to change his course. At times he passes like a meteor through the underwood, wliere he 

 secures hares and squirrels with ease. Should a flock of wild pigeons pass him, he immedi- 

 ately gives chase, soon overtakes them, and passing into the middle of the flock, scatters them 

 in confusion, when you may see him emerging with a bird in his talons, and diving towards 

 the depths of the forests to feed upon his victim. When travelling he flies high, with a 

 constant beat of wing, seldom moving in large circles like other Hawks." 



Tills Hawk is regarded as the oney^r/r excellence as a trained hunter. It is the species 

 most frequently alluded to in falconry. The female is, as is common to the Hawks, much the 

 largest. She is able to bear off a hare of considerable size. 



The Goshawk is the handsomest of the falcons ; its light-colored plumage and great size 

 suggest the gerfalcons. The wonderfully erect and noble attitude of this bird is a pleasurable 

 sight. 



The Shaep Shinned Hawk {Accipiter fuscus) is a small, slender bird, with exceedingly 

 delicate and long legs. It is laiown to the entire continent of Nortii America. 



It is one of the most common summer residents in New England. So impetuous is this 

 little Hawk, Mr. Nuttall says he has been known to dash through two distinct glass doors in his 

 effort to reach his prey. It is distinguished in its flight by a peculiar manner ; its short wings 

 and long tail giving it a characteristic aspect. It is a very much like the (xoshawk in miniature. 



Wilson was greatly impressed with the dash of this delicate little bird. Its long legs 

 appear no larger than pipe-stems, yet they bear an important part in the action of the little 

 creature. "It seemed to throw itself from one quarter of the heavens to another, with pro- 

 digious velocity ; inclining to the earth, swept suddenly down into a thicket, and instantly 

 reappeared with a small bird in his talons. The rapidity and seeming violence of these zigzag 

 excursions were really remarkable, and appeared to be for seizing his prey by sudden surprise and 

 main force of flight." The female of this species is remarkable for its greater size than the male. 



Another species of Nisus is named for Dr. Cooper, of California. It is found in most 

 parts of North America. 



Harkis' Buzzard {Antinor unicinctus) is a southern species, vrith a limited range. Like 

 most of the Buzzards it feeds on mice and reptiles, and is heavy and sluggish in habit. 



Grubee' s Hawk {Onjicliotes gruberi). This single species of a genus peculiar to this conti- 

 nent is so rare that only one specimen is known ; that is preserved in the Smithsonian 

 Institute. 



A VERT beautiful species of this genus, the New Holland White Eagle {Astur novce 

 hollandicB] is found in Australia, and is remarkable for the frequency with which its plumage 



