1909] Beebe: Supernumerary Toe in Hawks. 151 



Part I. 



In "The Auk" for October, 1887, Vol. iv, No. 4, pages 331- 

 333, is a short article entitled "Ornithological Curiosities, — A 

 Hawk with Nine Toes and a Bobolink with Spurs on its Wings," 

 by Henry K. Coale. An excellent wood cut is given of the foot 

 and leg of the hawk, together with the following information : 



"No. 5924 (Mus. H. K. C.),Buteo latissimus (Wils.), Broad- 

 winged Hawk. Shot in small woods half-mile S. E. of Grand 

 Crossing, 111., Sept. 6, 1884. Length, 14.75 ; extent, 32.50. Legs 

 and feet yellow. Bill black, cere greenish. Iris yellowish buff. 

 Stomach contained crayfish. 



"The extra toe .... grew out from the thigh, just above 

 the ankle joint. It was not connected with the bone, but could 

 be moved in any direction, seeming to grow from the muscles 

 of the thigh. The upper bone slightly curved; one movable 

 joint, a straight bone, and a perfect, movable claw. Color yel- 

 low, claw black, like the normal toes. 



"Professor Ridgway writes (1884) that the only bird in the 

 National Museum collection having abnormal toes is a Gull. It 

 is evidently a thing of rare occurrence." 



The extra toe is on the right leg and springs apparently 

 from the same posterior plane as the hind toe. The length of 

 the entire toe and claw is 46 mm., greater apparently than the 

 middle toe and claw. The scalation is normal. (Fig. 48.) 



Part II. 



In the Childrens' Museum, Brooklyn, is a mounted female 

 Broad-winged Hawk which possesses an extra toe on the left leg, 

 growing from the posterior aspect of the tarsus, in the same 

 plane as the hind toe, but elevated 6 mm. above that digit. It 

 is thus about three-quarters way down the tarsus. The length 

 of this abnormal toe and claw is 22 mm., making it but little 

 shorter than the hind toe, while the claw itself is fully as large 

 as that of the hind toe. It apparently possesses two phalanges 

 and the scalation is normal, corresponding with that of the 

 hind toe. If it were muscled, its position would admit of its 

 functioning in seizing and holding prey. 



The bird was collected in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, by Mr. 

 Zartmann, and my attention was called to it by Dr. F. A. Lucas. 

 (Fig. 49.) 



