BIEDS. 



141 



The eggs of this bird are four in number, greenish-white in color, and are usually laid by the 

 1st of May. An egg of a set secured by Dall, on April 27, 1868, at Nulato, measures 2.28 by 1.90 

 inches, and is of a dead white color with a very faint greenish shade. Another egg, secured near 

 the head of Unalakleet Eiver, by the same naturalist, measures 2.32 by 1.80, and is of a more 

 greenish white shade, with a few spots of bronze brown scattered irregularly over the surface. 



The middle of September, 1881, while the Corwin remained in Kotzebue Sound, these birds 

 were rather numerous about the shores, frequenting the alder-patches, and making forays among 

 the flocks of Ptarmigan which were gathered in this vicinity at the time, preparing for their 

 autumnal migration. In one instance a wounded Ptarmigan was seized and carried off before 

 my eyes. 



The Goshawk has a bad reputation among the natives, from its habit of stealing birds from 

 their snares, as well as for hunting the Ptarmigan, ujion which, at certain seasons, the Eskimo 

 depend largely for a food-supply. 



While at Niantilic, on the west coast of Davis Strait, September 19, Mr. Kumlien found one 

 specimen of this bird. 



AsTUR ATKICAPILLXJS STKiATULUS Ridgw. Western Goshawk. 



While examining the large series of Goshawks in the National Museum collection to ascertain 

 the status of the variety striatulus, a new and well-defined race was found to exist upon the Pacific 

 coast, of which a number of specimens are in the National Museum from California and Washing- 

 ton Territory, with the skin of a young bird from Sitka. It is characterized by the clearly-defined 

 and dark markings of the lower surface, so dark that they stand in sharp contrast to the light 

 ground-color. The color of the cap is much darker than in atricapillus, and extends down the 

 nape to the middle of the back and covers the shoulders. The bars of the tail are also more 

 sharply defined than in atricapillus. I propose naming this form in honor of my friend, Mr. H. 

 W. Henshaw, who is so well known for his work in western ornithology. 



[This Goshawk, described by Mr. Nelson in the Auk for April, 1884, p. 166, proves to be a well- 

 marked race, for which, as shown by Mr. Eidgway in the Auk for July, 1884, p. 253, the name 

 striatulus requires to be taken under the law of priority. The adult striatulus of Eidgway, 1874, 

 proves, indeed, to be a special phase of plumage of atricapillus, as shown by Mr. Nelson; but under 

 the name were described also several immature birds, which now turn out to belong to the race 

 characterized by Mr. Nelson under the name henshawi. — H. W. H.] 



The habitat of this race is the northwest coast of America from the Sierras in Middle Cali- 

 fornia north through Oregon, Washington Territory, to Sitka, at least, and probably farther along 

 that coast. The types of this race are specimens in the Smithsonian collection. No. 79798, a 

 female adult from Oheenakan Creek, Oregon, taken on August 16 by Mr. Henshaw; No. 85625, a 

 male adult; taken at Big Trees, California, on on June 17, 1881, by Mr. fielding ; No. 85624, a 

 male adult, taken at Big Trees, California, June 19, 1881. by Mr. fielding. The measurements of 

 these birds respectively are as follows : 



The following measurements are of two adult birds of typical atricapillus in the National 

 Museum collection : 



