530 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — BAPTOBES— A CCIPITBES. 



of pale bruwu. Three or four eggs are the usual nest-compleinent ; in the Northern and 

 Middle States they arc laid in May. 

 177. AS'TtJE. (Lut. astur, a hawk.) Goshawks. Characters in general as above given for 

 Accipiter; size superior, and organization more robust ; feet stronger, the tarsus feathered 

 about i way down in front and on the sides, leaving only a narrow bare strip behind ; the 

 scutellation discontinuous at the bases of the toes, which are finely reticulate ; resumed beyond ; 

 never fused. These " goose-hawks " or " star-hawks" are a small genus of five or six " ignoble " 

 species, hold in high estimation by falconers for their prowess in the chase. Ours appears to 

 be quite distinct fi'om A. palumbarius, though closely related. 

 496. A. atricapil'lvis. (Lat. atricapiUus, black-haired. Fig. 371.) American Goshawk. Blue 

 Hen Hawk (adult). Chicken Hawk (young). Adult $ ?: Above, dark bluish-slate color, 

 each feather black-sliafted ; top of head blackish, conspicuously different from otlier upper 

 parts, the feathers there with fleecy white bases ; a long white superciliary or ratlier post- 

 ocular stripe ; auriculars blackish. Ground color of under parts, including lining of wings, 

 white, closely barred or vermiculated in narrow zigzag lines Avith slaty-brown, except on throat 

 and crissum, and everywhere sharply pencilled with blackish shaft-lines, one on each feather. 

 The barring is largest and most regular on tlie belly, flanks, and tibi*, but is for the most part 

 much dissipated in a fine mottling. It varies greatly in coarseness in different specimens, soiiie 



of which approach A. palum- 

 barius in this respect. Tail 

 like back, banded with four 

 or five blackish bars, the ter- 

 minal one mu(!h the broadest. 

 Bill dark bluish; iris yellow- 

 isli ; feet yellow, claws black. 

 Wing-quills in similar pat- 

 tern, and both these and the 

 tail showing tendency to some 

 whitish mottling of inner webs 

 of the feathers. Young: The 

 difference is substantially as 

 in species of jlccyjiYer; above, 

 dark brown, varied with rusty- 

 brown and whitish ; below, 

 white, more or less tawny- 

 tinged, witli oblong, lance- 

 linear, clubbed or drop-shaped 

 dark brown markings. Tail 

 But in any equivocal plumage, 



^*r% 



Fig. 372. —Prairie Falcon, J nat size. (From life, by H. W. Elliott.) 

 more distinctly baiTed than in the adult, and with white tip. 

 the goshawk may be recognized by its size, M-hich is that of an average Buieo, together with 

 the short rounded wings, very long fan-shaped tail, and other genci'ic characters. Length of 

 (J 20.00-23.00; extent about i2.00 ; wing 12.00-13.00 ; tail 9.00-10.00 ; tarsus 2.75 ; middle 

 toe without claw 1.75; chord of culmen without cere 0.90; J, length 22.00-24.00; extent 

 45.00 or more; wing 13.00-14.00; tail 11.50-12.50. A large, powerful, and when in perfect 

 plumage, a very handsome hawk, of splendid spirit, the terror of the poultry-yard. A larger, 

 brighter, and altogether better bird than the European. It inliabits northern N. Am. ; the 

 northern half of the U. S. chiefly in winter, but is also resident in some parts, and breeds 

 in mountainous regions as far south at least as Colorado, wliere I have seen it in summer. 

 Its ordinary quarry is grouse, ptarmigan, and hares. The nesting and the eggs, as described, 

 are most like those of Accipikr cooperi ; the eggs, probably only distinguishable by their supe- 



