544 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — BAFTOBES — A CCIPITBES. 
species, variously interpreted by writers. Different ''black hawks" have been called " har- 
lani,^^ such as the melanistic phases of both borealis and swainsoni, and harlani has been 
, supposed to be not different from borealis. A few specimens in .the Smithsonian Institution, 
identified with Audubon's bird by Mr. Eidgway, agree sufficiently with the plate and description, 
and the alleged species may, for the present, stand upon its own demerits. 
516. B. borealis. (Lat. borealis, northern. Fig. 380.) Red-tailed Buzzard. " Hen Hawk." 
Adult ^ 9 : Upper surface of tail rich chestnut, with white tip and usually a black subterminal 
zone, with or without other narrower and more or less imperfect black bars; sometimes 
barred throughout. From below, the tail appears pearly whitish with a reddish tinge, either 
quite uniform, or barred throughout with the whitish and blackish. In general, it is the 9 
with the most barred or completely barred tail, the ^ with the uniform tail, only subter- 
minally once-zoned. Upper parts blackish-brown, with a thoroughly indeterminate amount 
of light variegation, gray, fulvous, and M^hitish ; feathers of hind head and nape with cottony 
white bases, showing when disturbed ; those of hind neck usually with fulvous edging ; of 
Fig. 380. — Ked-tailed Buzzard, iiat. size. (Ad nat. del. E. C.) 
scapular region showing most variegation with tawny or whitish, or both, the scapulars and 
adjoining feathers being largely barred, and only blackish on their exposed portions ; u})per 
tail-coverts showing much tawny and white. Ground color of under parts M^hite, more or less 
buff-toned, the dark color of the upper parts reaching nearly or quite around the throat, the 
flanks and lower belly heavily marked with dark brown or blackish, but a large pectoral area, 
with the tibiae and crissum, mostly free from markings, as a rule ; but no description will 
cover the latitude of coloration. Primaries blackening on their exposed portions, for the rest 
lighter grayish-browTi, dark-barred across both webs, and extensively white-areated on inner 
webs basally. Length of ^ 19.00-22.00; extent about 48.00; wing 13.50-1G.50; tail 8.50 
-10.00; tarsus 2.50-3.00, feathered half-way down in front. 9 larger; length 21.00-24.00; 
exteijt about 56.00 ; wing 14.50-17.50; tail 9.50-10.00. ^ 9 , young : General character of 
the upper parts the same as in the adult, but less variegated, and that chiefly with whitish and 
buff, instead of grayish and fulvous ; upper tail-coveits more regularly baiTcd with dark and 
white. Tail entirely different, without any shade of red; light gray, with numerous (6-10) 
regular dark bars, and narrow white tips; the gray gradually yields to the chestnut shade 
