344 THE GAME FALCONS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
ences to be reconciled? Further investigation alone can settle 
represented on plate first, figure first of Samuels’ Ornithology. 
Long diameter 1,9; ; short diameter lf 
As I have only one egg, and as the number of specimens I have 
seen has been quite limited, I cannot speak authoritatively upon 
the subject. I will only say that the markings are almost exactly 
like those of the duck hawk described in my previous article on 
the game falcons of New England. They look like diminutive 
duck hawk’s eggs. 
In this as in all birds of prey, so far as I have investigated the 
subject, the female is the largest and most powerful bird. Fe- 
male—length, 12 to 14 inches; alar extent, 24 to 27 inches. 
Male—length, 10 to 12 inches ; alar extent, 23 to 25 inches. 
The adult male is seldom taken here, perhaps one in twelve or 
fifteen specimens. As the description of the three stages of plu- 
mage is given so accurately by Mr. Cassin, and corresponds with 
my observations, I will give each stage as described by him. 
male. ‘Entire upper parts bluish slate color, every 
feather with a black longitudinal line; forehead and throat white, 
other under parts pale yellowish or reddish white; every feather 
with a longitudinal line of brownish black; tibie light ferru- 
ginous with lines of black. Quills black, tipped with ashy white; 
tail light bluish ashy, tipped with white and with a subterminal 
band of black, and with several other transverse narrower bands 
of black; inner webs nearly white; cere and legs yellow; bill 
blue. 
Younger. Entire upper strange dusky brown, quite light in 
some specimens, and with a tinge of ashy ; head above with nar- 
row stripes of dark brown and ferruginous, and in some speci- 
mens many irregular spots and edgings of the latter color on the 
other upper parts. Forehead and entire under parts dull white, 
the latter with longitudinal stripes of light brown ; sides and flanks 
light brown, with pairs of circular spots of white ; tibiæ dull white, 
with dashes of brown; tail pale brown, with about six transverse 
bands of white, cere and legs greenish yellow. 
_ Young. Upper plumage brownish black, white of the forehead 
and under parts more deeply tinged with reddish yellow; dark 
stripes wider than in the preceding; sides and flanks with wide 
transverse bands of brownish black, and with circular spots of 
p- 
