AMERICAN BUZZARD. 61 



with dark brown ; across the belly a band of interrupted spots of brown ; 

 chin white ; femorals and vent pale brownish white, the former marked 

 with a few minute heart-shaped spots of brown ; legs yellow, feathered 

 half way below the knees. 



This was a male. Another specimen shot within a few days after, 

 agreed in almost every particular of its color and markings with the 

 . present ; and on dissection was found to be a female. 



FALCO LEVERIANUSf* 



AMERICAN BUZZARD. 



[Plate LII. Fig. 2.] 



It is with some doubt and hesitation that I introduce the present as 

 a distinct species from the preceding. In their size and general aspect 

 they resemble each other considerably ; yet I have found both males 

 and females among each ; and in the present species I have sometimes 

 found the ground color of the tail strongly tinged with ferruginous, and 

 the bars of dusky but slight ; while in the preceding, the tail is some- 

 times wholly red brown, the spgle bar of black near the tip excepted ; 

 in other specimens evident remains of numerous other bars are visible. 

 In the meantime both are figured, and future observations may throw 

 more light on the matter. 



This bird is more numerous than the last ; but frequents the same 

 situations in winter. One, which was shot in the wing, lived with me 

 several weeks ; but refused to eat. It amused itself by frequently hop- 

 ping from one end of the room to the other ; and sitting for hours at the 

 window, looking down on the passengers below. At first, when ap- 

 proached by any person, he generally put himself in the position in 

 which he is represented ; but after some time he became quite familiar, 

 permitting himself to be handled, and shutting his eyes as if quite pas- 

 sive. Though he lived so long without food, he was found on dissection 

 to be exceedingly fat, his stomach being enveloped in a mass of solid fat 

 of nearly an inch in thickness. 



The American Buzzard, or White-breasted Hawk, is twenty-two 

 inches long, and four feet in extent ; cere pale green ; bill pale blue, 

 black at the point ; eye bright straw color ; eyebrow projecting greatly ; 

 head broad, flat and large ; upper part of the head, sides of the neck 



* Falco borealis. Wilson's suspicions of this and the preceding being the same 

 bird, have been confirmed by Prince Musignano. This is the young, the preceding 

 the adult bird. 



