ASH-COLORED, OR BLACK-CAP HAWK. 453 
wing-coverts, spotted with white; wing-quills, much resembling the 
preceding species ; tail-coverts, white, handsomely barred with brown; 
tail, slightly rounded, of a pale brown color, varying in some to a 
sorrel, crossed by nine or ten bars of black, and tipped for half an inch 
with white ; wings, brown, barred with dusky ; inner vanes nearly all 
white; chin, throat, and breast, pure white, with the exception of 
some slight touches of brown that enclose the chin; femorals, yellow- 
ish white, thinly marked with minute touches of rust; legs, bright 
yellow, feathered half way down: belly, broadly spotted with black or 
very deep brown; the tips of the wings reach to the middle of the 
tail 
My reason for inclining to consider this a distinct species from the 
Jast, is the circumstance of having uniformly found the present two or 
three inches larger than the former, though this may possibly be owing 
to their greater age. 
Gos hawk 
ASH-COLORED, OR BLACK-CAP HAWK.—FALCO ATRICA- 
PILLUS. — Fie. 207. 
Ash-colored Buzzard? Lath. Syn. i. p. 55, No. 35.— Peale’s Musenm, No. 406. 
ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS, — Bosaparte.* 
Faleo palumbarius, Bonap. Synop. p. 28.— Autour royal, Falco regalis, Temm. 
Pl. Col. tab. 495.— Accipiter (Asfur) atricapillus, North. Zool. ii. p. 39.— 
Astur atricapillus, Jurd. and Selh. lust Orn. pl. 121. 
OF this beautiful species 1 can find no precise description. The 
Ash-colored Buzzard-of Edwards differs so much from this, particu- 
larly in wanting the fine zigzag lines below, and the black cap, that I 
* The Falco atricapilius of Wilson has been confounded by all writers, except 
the Prince of Musignano, in his review of Cuvier, and the authors of the Northern 
Zoolory, with the Goshawk of Europe. Wilson expresses kis doubt, from being 
unable 1o compare it with actual specimens. Sabine makes out the Arctic speci 
mens to be identical. Audubon is of opinion, also, that they were identical ; but 
from what I recollect of that gentleman's drawing, it must have been made from 
this bird. While Temminck makes a new species altogether in his Autour royal, 
without noticing Wilson. : 
The greatest difference between the two birds is the marking of the breast and 
under parts, and itis so distinct as to be at once perceived. In the American spe- 
cies, the under parts are of a uniform pale gravish white, having the tail and centre 
of each feather black, forming a dark streak. This extends to those in the centre 
of the belly, after which it is hardly visible; everv feather in addition is clouded 
transversely with irregular bars of gray. In the European bird. the markings are 
in the shape of two decided transverse bars on each feather, with the shaft dark. 
but not exceeding its own breadth, —cach. as a whole, having a very different ap- 
pearance. The upper parts of the American bird are also of a blue shade, and the 
markings of the head and auriculars are darker and more decided. Wilson’s figure 
is a most correct representation. 
The genus Astur, of Bechstein, has now been used for this form. and is gener- 
ally synonymous with Les autours of the French. Mr. Swainson, however, is in- 
elined to make it rather a sub-genus of Acciiter,in which the Sparrow Hawks. 
