FALCONIB^ —ACCIPITBIN^ : HAWKS. 



527 



176. ACCI'PITEB. (Lat.fl(cai)ifer,ahawk. Fig. 368.) Shaep-shinned Hawks. Tarsi feathered, 

 about i way down in front, or less (in Astwr about ^ way), and quite slender (whence the term 

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

 the scutellation 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 padded underneath; 

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



Fig. 369. —Accipiter nisus of Europe, adult d', i nat. size; not distinguishable in a cut from our Sharp- 

 ehinned Hawk ; taken as of J nat. size it would represent Cooper's Uawk just as well ; at i It would do duty for a 

 Gosliawk. (FromBrelim.) 



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

 3d shorter than 6th, 1st very short. The two following species are exactly alike in color ; one 

 is a miniature 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 -vidth 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 



