FAL C0NID2E — A CGIPITBIN2E : HA WKS. 



527 



176. ACCI'PITER. (Lat-accipife?-, ahawk. Fig. 368.) S»ARP-f3HiNNED Hawks. Tarsi feathered 

 abiiut 1 way down in front, or less (in Astur about \ M'ay), and quite slender (whence the term 

 " sharp-shinned ") ; in one species prominently and continuously scutcllate before and behind, 

 the scuteUatiou continued on to the toes; in the other the same, or finally fused in a continuous 

 "boot." Toes long, slender, the outer one much webbed at base and j)added underneath; 

 inner claw much larger than the middle one, approximately equalling the hind claw; height 



. ^o fa.-Acclpiter nisus of Europe, adult cT, i nat. Bize; not distinguishable in a cut from our ShaiD- 

 GZC^'^'^)i,^Br:Z.f * "''■ "^' " """" "^""■^' ^""^'^^'^ Ha,vk jusf as .ell ; at -J it wouirdo duty t"^ 



of bDl at base greater than chord of culmen ; 4th and 5th quills longest, 3d and 6th next 

 2d shorter than 6th, 1st very short. The two following species are exactly alike in color • one 

 IS a mimatuTO of the other. The ordinary plumage is dark brown above (deepest on the head 

 the occipital feathers showing white when disturbed), with an ashy or plumbeous shade which 

 increases with age, till the general cast is quite bluish-ash ; below, white or whitish, variously 

 streaked with dark brown and rusty, finally changing to brownish-red (palest behind and 



