WHITE-TAILED HAWK. 
17 
third ; the second longest ; the two outer ones are 
shghtly- serrated on their outer web. When closed, 
the wings reach within less than an inch of the tip 
of the tail. The tail is seven inches long-, slightly 
emarginated, and with the outer feather more than 
an inch shorter than the adjoining one ; the middle 
leathers are very pale bluish slate, all the others pure 
1v hite ; shafts above, black towards the tip, and beneath, 
. ite ; that of the exterior tail-feather, white, tipped 
1F ith dusky above towards the base ; feet, bright yellow 
orange ; tarsus, one inch and a half long, feathered in 
1 "('t half its length, the remainder covered with small 
eticulated scales; toes, separated to the base; nails, 
,ge> black, very acute, and, with the exception of the 
"Idle one, perfectly rounded beneath ; the middle one 
s very sharp on the inner side. 
the male is of a smaller size; the upper surface, 
nstead of being bluish slate, is more of a dirty grayish, 
"Oghtly tinged with ferruginous ; the tail is less purely 
ute. These sexual differences are the more worthy 
note, as they are the reverse of what is exhibited in 
o her hawks. It is, however, possible, that they are 
°t to be found in very old males. i 
the young of both sexes, but especially .the young 
hales, are somewhat darker, and are strongly tinged 
! ferruginous, principally on the head, neck, and 
ln ? s ’ , le breast being entirely of that colour. A 
pecimen of the African species in this state is figured 
jy e VaUlant, whose plates in general are tolerably 
accurate ; but how great is the disappointment of the 
j;” 1 . to find the tarsi represented as covered 
distinctly with plates, as in other hawks ! We cannot 
1 Pass this opportunity of exhorting engravers, drafts- 
ii, and all artists employed on works of natural 
a 01 y> never to depend on what they are accustomed 
to see. all cases to copy faithfully what they 
Wen, and all artists 
hist' 
. see, but iu .... 
lave under their eyes; otherwise, taking for granted 
T hat they ought not, they will inevitably fall into 
0 lesc gross errors. Even the accurate Wilson himself, 
1 rather perhaps his engraver, has committed the same 
VOL. IV. B 
