454 ASH-COLORED, OR BLACK-CAP HAW K. 
cannot for a moment suppose them to be the same. The individual 
from which the drawing was made, is faithfully represented in Fig. 
207, reduced to one half its natural dimensions. This bird was shot 
within a few miles of Philadelphia, and is now preserved, in good or- 
der, in Mr. Peale’s Museum, 
Its general make and aspect denotes great strength and spirit; its 
legs are strong, and its claws of more than proportionate size. Should 
any other specimen or variety of this Hawk, differing from the pres- 
ent, occur during the publication of this work, it will enable me more 
accurately to designate the species. 
The Black-Cap Hawk is twenty-one inches in length; the bill and 
cere are blue; eye, reddish amber; crown, black, bordered on each 
side by a line of white finely specked with black; these lines of 
white meet on the hind head; whole upper parts, slate, tinged with 
brown, slightest on the quills; legs, feathered half way down, and, 
with the feet, of a yellow color; whole lower parts and femorals, 
white, most elegantly speckled with fine, transverse, pencilled, zigzag 
lines of dusky, all the shafts being a long, black line; vent, pure 
white. 
If this be not the celebrated Goshawk, formerly so much esteemed 
in falconry, it is very closely allied to it. {[ have never myself -seen a 
specimen of that bird in Europe, and the descriptions of their best 
naturalists vary considerably ; but, from a careful examination of the 
figure and account of the Goshawk, given by the ingenious Mr. Be- 
wick, rahe Birds, vol. i. p. 65,) I have very little doubt that the pres- 
ent will be found to be the same. 
The Goshawk inhabits France and Germany ; is not very common 
im South Britain, but more frequent in the northern parts of the 
island, and is found in Russia and Siberia. Buffon, who reared two 
young birds of this kind, a male and female, observes, that “the Gos- 
and lesser species, have been placed. There is some difference in the construc- 
tion of the tarsi, but the habits and general form are nearly similar. In the Orni- 
thology of America, the Astur Pennsylvanicus will show an example of the one 3 
the bird now in question that of the other. 
In general form, the birds of this group are strong, but do not show the firm and 
compact structure of the true Falcon. The wings are short and rounded, and pre- 
sent a considerable under surface, favorable to a smooth and sailing flight, which 
power is rendered more perfect by the lengthened and expanded tail. The tarsi 
and feet bear a relative proportion of strength to their bodies, and the claws are 
more than usually hooked and sharp; thatof the inner toe always equal to the 
hallux. Their favorite abodes are woods, or well-clothed countries, where they 
build and rear their young, hunting for prey about the skirts. They are extremely 
active and bold; their flight is sailing in circles, or, when in search of prey, skim- 
ming near to the ground, about fences and brush, and darting at any thing, either 
on the ground or on wing, with great celerity. I have seen some of our native spe- 
cies pick up a bird. when flying near the ground, so rapidly, that the motion of 
stooping and clutching was hardly perceptible, and the flight continued, as if noth- 
ing had happened. During their Higher ights, or when threading through a thick 
wood, which they do with great dexterity, the motions of the tail are perceived di- 
recting their movements, and, in the latter case, is most conspicuously necessary. 
When perched at rest the position is unusually erect ; so much, that the line of the 
back and tail is almost perpendicular. The plumage in the adulls is cften of a 
dark leaden color above, with bars and crosses on the under parts; in the young, 
the upper surface assumes different shades of brown, while the markings nent 
are longitudinal. — Ep. 
