FALCO LEVERMNUS?* 
AMERICAN BUZZARD. 
[Plate LII.— Fig. 2.] 
Peale’s Museum, JVy. 400. 
It is with some doubt and hesitation that I introduce the 
present as a distinct species from the preceding. In their size 
and general aspect they resemble each other considerably; yet 
I have found both males and females among each; and in the 
present species I have sometimes found the ground colour of 
the tail strongly tinged with ferruginous, and the bars of dusky 
but slight; while in the preceding, the tail is sometimes wholly 
red brown, the single bar of black near the tip excepted; in other 
specimens evident remains of numerous other bars are visible. 
In the meantime both are figured, and future observations may 
throw more light on the matter. 
This bird is more numerous than the last; but frequents the 
same situations in winter. One, which was shot in the wing, 
lived with me several weeks; but refused to eat. It amused it- 
self by frequently hopping from one end of the room to the 
other; and sitting for hours at the window, looking down on 
the passengers below. At first, when approached by any per- 
son, he generally put himself in the position in which he is 
represented; but after some time he became quite familiar, per- 
mitting himself to be handled, and shutting his eyes as if quite 
passive. Though he lived so long without food, he was found 
on dissection to be exceedingly fat, his stomach being enveloped 
in a mass of solid fat of nearly an inch in thickness. 
* Falco borenlis. Wilson’s suspicions of this and the preceding being the 
same bird, have been confirmed by Prince Musignano. This is the young, the 
preceding the adult bird. 
