58 ASH -COLORED, OR BLACK-CAP HAWK. 
Wilson states, that this species, on the coast of New Jersey, com- 
mences laying about the first of May ; but I observed it sitting, in East 
Florida, on the third of March. The weather was then Avarm : Fahren- 
heit being at 80° in the shade. — Gr. Ord. 
Species VIL FALCO ATRICAPILLUS* 
ASH-COLORED, or BLACK-CAP HAWK. 
[Plate LII. Fig. 3.] 
Of this beautiful species I can find no precise description. The Ash- 
colored Buzzard of Edwards differs so much from this, particularly in 
wanting the fine zig-zag lines below, and the black cap, tliat I cannot 
for a moment suppose them to be the same. The individual from which 
the drawing was made is faithfully represented in the plate, reduced to 
one-half its natural dimensions. This bird was shot within a few miles 
of Philadelphia. 
Its general make and aspect denote great strength and spirit ; its legs 
are strong, and its claws of more than proportionate size. Should any 
other specimen or variety of this Hawk, differing from the present, occur 
during the publication of this work, it will enable me more accurately to 
designate the species. 
The Black-cap Hawk is twenty-one inches in length ; the bill and 
cere are blue ; eye reddish amber ; crown black, bordered on. each side 
by a line of Avhite, finely specked Avith black ; these lines of Avhite meet 
on the hind-head ; whole upper parts slate, tinged with brown, slightest 
on the quills ; legs feathered half Avay doAvn., and, with the feet, of a 
yellow color ; whole loAver parts and femorals white, most elegantly 
speckled Avith fine transverse pencilled zig-zag lines of dusky, all the 
shafts being a long black line ; A^ent pure Avhite. 
If this be not the celebrated CrosJiawk, formerly so much esteemed in 
falconry, it is very closely allied to it. I have never myself seen a 
specimen of that bird in Europe, and the descriptions of their best 
naturalists vary considerably ; but from a careful examination of the 
* Falcn-FaUuiiharius, Linn. As was suspected by Wilson, this is not a new 
species, but the celebrated GoshaAvk. The following synonymes are given by 
Prince Jlusignano : Falco Columbarins, GiiBi.. Si/sf. j., p. 281. Lath. — Temm. — 
¥. goiiilis, LiNX. Gmel. Si/st. i., p. 270. Lath, (young) F. galJinarins. Linn. Lath. 
(very young female.) L'Aiitour, Buff. PI. Enl. 418. (adult) L'Auioiir sorfi, Buff. 
PL Enl. 461 (young). Le Buzard, Buff. PL Eid. 423. (very young female.) See 
Journal Acad. Nat. Sc. m., p. 346. 
