FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



208 



primaries are unbarred, and the three outer ones are notched 

 on the inner web ; the belly is much blotched and barred with 

 blackish, whitish, and buffy markings. There is a very dark 

 (melanistic) form of this bird, in which the whole plumage is 

 evenly blackish. Of course there are birds of. intermediate 

 colors. The size and the peculiar primaries as above given are 

 distinct enough to fix the species. 



Length, 10-22; wing, 14f— ITJ; tail, 8-10; tarsus, 2| ; culraen, f 

 Western Nortli America from Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Texas to tlie 

 Pacific, nortli to tlie Arctic regions, and south to the Argentine Republic ; 

 breeding throughout its North American range. Casual to Massachu- 

 setts and Maine. 



— A 



broad 



dark- 

 dark 



15. Broad-winged Hawk (343. Buteo latl.^simus) 

 colored hawk, with grayish tail, crossed by two 

 bars ; under parts brownish, heavily 

 barred. The primaries are without red- 

 dish markings, and the three outer ones 

 are notched on the inner web. The young 

 has a grayish-brown tail, crossed by three 

 to five indistinct black bars, but has the 

 narrow whitish tip of the adult. A slug- 

 gish, unsuspicious hawk, feeding on in- 

 sects, small mammals, batrachians, and 

 reptiles. 



Length, 13-17 ; wing, 10-llJ ; tail, 6i-8 ; tar- 

 sus, 21; culmen, |. Eastern North America 

 north to New Brunswick, south to northern 

 South America ; breeding throughout its United 

 States range. 



16. Short-tailed Hawk (344. Biiteo bra- 

 chyiirus). — A rare, Florida, slaty-gray to Broad-winged Hawk 

 grayish-brown hawk, with all under parts 



pure white, except some brownish markings on the sides of the 

 breast. The grayish tail is barred with black and narrowly 

 tipped with white. The young has the under parts washed 

 with buffy. This species, like Ko. 14, is found in a very dark 



