44 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[13.] 2. Accipiter Pennsylvanicus. (Swainson.) Slate-coloured Hawk. 



Genus. Accipiter. Antiq. Ray. 



Slate-coloured Hawk. {Falco Pennsylvanicus.) Wilson, vi., p. 13, pi. 46, f. 1. Male. 



Autour a bee sinueux. Temm. PI. col. 67. Female. ? 



Falco (Astur) velox. Bonap. Syn., p. 29, No. 14. 



Accipiter Fringilloides. Vigors. Zool.Journ., iii., p. 436, No. 11. ? 



Peepeequaisees. Cree Indians. (IMonsonees.) 



A specimen of this bird, killed in the vicinity of Moose Factory, and deposited 

 by the Hudson's Bay Company in the Zoological Museum, enables us to enume- 

 rate it as an inhabitant of the fur countries, although it was not seen by any of the 

 members of the Expedition in their several journeys. The admirable figure of 

 Wilson is so perfectly characteristic of this Hawk, that we feel no doubt in consi- 

 dering our specimen as truly belonging to the same species. Less certainty, how- 

 ever, attends the synonymehere quoted of the Planches coloriees of M. Temminck; 

 for the figure is either remarkably inaccurate, or it represents a bird very different 

 from the female of F. Pennsylvanicus, — the tail being represented as distinctly 

 rounded, whereas, in the species described by Wilson, the termination of all the 

 feathers is perfectly even. The text, unfortunately, affords nothing to solve the 

 question : should this be an error of the artist, the figure must be considered, not 

 as '* lejeune de I'annee," as supposed by M. Temminck, but as a male of the 

 second year, just assuming the adult plumage, — a fact sufficiently indicated by 

 the figure, which represents some indistinct transverse bands on the breast. The 

 females and males of the first year are marked with longitudinal stripes on all 

 parts of the under plumage. Still greater doubts impede the right understanding 

 of the Accipiter fringilloides of Mr. Vigors, whose description, minute in all that 

 regards colour, is deficient in the three most material points which might have 

 solved our difficulties; namely, the form of the tail, the relative proportion of the 

 quills, and the comparative sinuosity of the upper mandible. So far, however, as 

 this account goes, it might lead to the suspicion of its having been taken from a 

 young male A. Pennsylvanicus, the <l frontis plumes brunnescentes fusco striata? " 

 being probably the indication of youth ; while the measurements of the bill and 

 tarsus sufficiently agree with those of our bird*. Yet the length of the wings, 

 stated at only five inches, if not an error of the press or of transcription, consider- 



* It is very desirable tliat authors should adopt one uniform mode of measurement, or at least explain their methods 

 more accurately, until some definite plan is adopted. — S\v. 



