THE GAME FALCONS OF NEW ENGLAND. 87 
me are thirteen eggs of the duck hawk obtained in very different 
localities, viz: Massachusetts, Vermont, Labrador and Alaska, 
which are quite irregularly marked, yet as uniform in size and 
markings as any of the blotched eggs of our rapacious birds. In 
my collection are fifty-seven eggs of the Red-shouldered hawk 
(Buteo lineatus), and the variations both in size and markings are 
fully as great and rather more so than those of the duck hawks 
referred to above. The measurement of one egg from each set 
will be sufficient (as those belonging to the same set in my own 
collection are very uniform in size) to show that the difference in 
size is not very great, although they were collected in widely. 
separate localities. ‘ 
Massachusetts,—Size of egg, long diameter, 2.15 in.; short diameter, 1.80 in. 
Vermont, e dese ae T i eoa eB" 
Labrador, iE ee NAO i e wik 
Alaska, ej chert OM RA age. TOA fe a EE 
The eggs are oblong—larger at one end than the other. The 
egg from Labrador is, quite pointed; those from Massachusetts 
and Alaska are less so, while those from Vermont are but slightly 
smaller at one end than the other. The ground color is light red- 
dish brown, mottled with darker shades of the same color in irreg- 
ular blotches, most abundant at one end, usually the larger end, 
but occasionally the markings are more delicate and quite evenly 
distributed. There is now and then an egg in which the ground 
color is dirty white. 
Length of bird, 16-20 inches; alar extent, 36-42 inches; com- 
pact and firmly built; neck short, feet remarkably large, upper 
mandible with a tooth-like process, and a corresponding notch in 
lower. Adult, head and hind neck dark brown, upper parts bluish 
gray with darker bands, lower part yellowish white with breast 
and sides transversely barred with black, cheeks with a patch of 
black ; tail brownish black with eight transverse bars of pale cine- 
reous ; legs and toes yellow, bill light blue, eyes hazel. Younger 
specimens, entire upper parts brownish black, space on cheek black, 
with long longitudinal stripes of brownish black on the under 
parts, instead of transverse as in the adult ; legs bluish lead color. 
