104 SHARP-SHINNED OR SLATE-COLOURED HAWK. 



our smaller snakes and lizards, and not unfrequently snatches up a frog while 

 basking in the sun. 



The difference of size observed between the males and females, as well as 

 between individuals of the same sex, is very remarkable; and no doubt it 

 was on account of this very great disparity that Wilson described specimens 

 of each sex as distinct species. Its notes are short, shrill, and repeated in a 

 hurried manner, when the bird is wounded and brought to the ground. It 

 often emits cries of this kind while falling, but suddenly becomes silent 

 when it comes to the earth, and then makes off swiftly, with long and light 

 leaps, keeping silent until approached. Although a small bird, it possesses 

 considerable muscular power, and its extremely sharp claws are apt to inflict 

 severe pain, should a person lay hold of it incautiously. 



Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vi. p. 13. Adult 



Male. 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Falco velox, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vi. p. 116. Young Female. 

 Falco velox, Bonap. Syn., p. 29. 

 Falco fuscus, Bonap. Syn., Append., p. 433. 

 Accipiter Pennsylvanicus, Slate-coloured Hawk, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 



ii. p. 41. 

 American Brown or Slate-coloured Hawk, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 87. 

 Sharp-shinned or Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco fuscus, Aud. Amer. Orn., vol. iv. p. 522. 



Adult. 



Tail even, tarsi extremely slender. Adult male bluish-grey above; the 

 tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, and tipped with white; upper 

 part of head darker; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white, 

 the throat white, longitudinally streaked. Female similar, more tinged with 

 yellow beneath, and* with the bands on the breast broader. Young umber- 

 brown above, more or less spotted with white, the tail with four dark brown 

 bars; lower parts white, each feather with a longitudinal narrow, oblong, 

 brown spot. Miniature of Falco Cooperii, and intimately allied to tdstur 

 Nisus. 



Male \\{, 20^. Female 14, 26. 



