FALCONIDjE — ACCIPITIUN^: HAWKS. 
527 
176. ACCI'PITER. (Lat. accipto, a hawk. Fig. 368.) Sharp-shinned Hawks. Tarsi feathered 
about i way down in front, or less (in Astur about ^ way), and quite slender (whence the term 
''sharp-shinned") ; in one species prominently and continuously scutellate before and behind, 
the scutellation continued on to the toes ; in the other the same, or finally fused in a continuous 
"boot." Toes long, slender, the outer one much webbed at base and padded underneath; 
inner claw much larger than the middle one, approximately equalling the hind claw ; height 
Fig. 369. — Accipiter nisus of Europe, adult cf , i nat. size; not distinguishable in a cut from our Sharp- 
shinned Hawk ; taken as of ^ nat. size it would represent Cooper's Hawk just as well ; at J it would do duty for a 
Goshawk. (From Brehm. ) 
of bill at base greater than chord of culmen ; 4th and 5th quills longest, 3d and 6th next, 
2d shorter than 6th, 1st very short. The two following species are exactly alike in color ; one 
is a miniature of the other. The ordinary plumage is dark brown above (deepest on the head, 
tlie occipital feathers showing white when disturbed), with an ashy or plumbeous shade which 
increases with age, till the general cast is quite bluish-ash ; below, white or whitish, variously 
streaked with dark brown and rusty, finally changing to brownish-red (palest behind and 
