140 



KEY TO THE GENERA AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES OF 



INDIANA HAWKS. 



I. Tarsus feathered to the toes. 



a. Tarsus with a narrow unfeathered strip behind, tail less than 12 : 



ARCHIBUTEO. Brehm. Squirrel Hanks. 



163. A. LAGOPUS. (Brum.) Var. SANCTI-JOHANNIS. (Gm.) Rough- 

 Legged Hawk. Black Hawk. Chiefly whitish, but sometimes entirely black ; L. 

 24; W. 18; T. 10. Ashy but common migrant north from October to March, 

 One in the black plumage was captured alive near Chicago, and throve until the 

 hot days of summer, when it succumbed. Of it Nelson says: "For noble presence 

 and piercing eye this bird has few equals among our falconidse. The specimen 

 bore a striking resemblance to a golden eagle." 



aa. Tarsus entirely feathered; length of tail 12 or more : 



AQUILA. Mehring. Golden Eagles, 



164. A. CHRYS.ETUS. L. Glossy purplish brown ; head and neck golden 

 brown; quills blackish; L. 36; W. 25; T. 16. Not uncommon during the winter ; 

 formerly nested throughout the State. Will feed on carrion. A pair in December, 

 1874, took offense at a young hunter, Mr. T. Morris, of Englewood, 111., and 

 attacked him, darting within arm's length. He shot one dead and captured the 

 other alive, shooting off the primaries of one wing. The craw of the dead eagle 

 contained carrion. 



II. Tarsus scutellate in front only. 



b. Toes not webbed at all ; neck feathers lanceolate, white in the adult : 



HALL-ETUS. Savigny. Bald Eagles. 



H. LEUCOCEPHALUS. (L.) Dark brown ; head, neck and tail white after 

 the third year. Immature birds are larger than the adults; such an one was the 

 famous "Bird of Washington," figured and described by Audubon as a new species. 

 A common North American bird ; piscivorous, stealing its fish fram the fish-hawk ; 

 "otherwise notorious as the emblem of the Republic." [Dr. Coues.) 



Common winter resident ; more abundant i'n spring and fall ; "breeds sparingly." 

 {Nelson.) It may be well to note here that there are but two eagles 'in America — 

 this and the golden eagle. 

 M. Toes somewhat webbed at base. 



c. Tarsus feathered half way down in front, the feathers scarcely separated 



behind. 



ASTUR. Lacepede. Goshawks. 



165. A. PALUMBARIUS. (L.) Var. ATRICAPILLUS. Coues. Slate blue, 

 with white superciliary stripe; tail with four dark bars; L. 24; W. 14; T. II. A 

 northern hawk, formerly a common winter resident north ; now rare. President 

 Marcy, of Northwestern University, found them abundant about Evanston, 111., in 

 the winter of 1870-71. {Nelson.) 



cc. Tarsus feathered less than one-third down in front, the feathers widely sepa . 

 rated : 



