WINTER FALCON. 



73 



This is, probably, the most timid of all our sparrows. In 

 winter it frequents the sea-shores ; but, as spring approaches, 

 migrates to the interior, as I have lately discovered, building 

 its nest in the grass nearly in the same form, though with 

 fewer materials, as that of the bay-winged bunting. On the 

 23d of May, I found one of these at the root of a clump of 

 rushes in a grass field, with three young, nearly ready to fly. 

 The female counterfeited lameness, spreading her wings and 

 tail, and using many affectionate stratagems to allure me from 

 the place. The eggs I have never seen. 



WINTER FALCON. {Falco hyemalis.) 



PLATE XXXV.— Fig. 1. 



Turton, Syst. p. 156.— Arct. Zool. p. 209, No. 107.— Peak's Museum, No. 272 



t and 273. 



ASTUR? HYEMALIS.— Jakdine.* 

 The "Winter Hawk, Aud. pi. 71 ; Orn. Biog. p. 164. 



This elegant and spirited hawk is represented in the plate of 

 one-half its natural size ; the other two figures are reduced in 

 the same proportion. He visits us from the north early in 

 November, and leaves us late in March. 



* This species, with the Falco Uneatus of our author, have been the 

 subject of dispute, as to their identity. The Prince of Musignano thinks 

 they are the same, but in different states of plumage, according to age. 

 Audubon says they are decidedly distinct, and has given plates of each, 

 with an account of the differences he observed in their habits. I have 

 transcribed his observations at some length, that these distinctions may 

 be seen and judged of individually. I am inclined to consider them 

 distinct, and cannot reconcile the great difference of habit to birds of 

 one species, particularly in the same country. With regard to their 

 station, again, they present a most interesting form. They are inter- 

 mediate, as it were, between Buteo, Astur, and Circus. The colours are 

 those of Buteo and Circus ; while the form and active habits of the one 

 is that of Astur ; those of the winter hawk more of Circus ; the wings 

 are short for a true Buzzard, and possess the proportional length of the 

 feathers of the goshawks. The feet of both are decidedly Astur, run- 

 ning perhaps into the more slender form of Circus ; and from the pre- 



