BLACK HAWK. 
99 
Spec. Charact. — Black; front and line round the eye white ; tail 
rounded, crossed with 5 bands of white, and terminated with dull 
white. — Young , according to age, varied with white, brown, 
blackish, and ferruginous ; at first palish brown ? Tail half 
way white, with 1 or 2 external dusky bars and a broad subter- 
minal band of black ; — the feathers sometimes merely blotched 
with black and white on their inner vanes. 
This somewhat rapacious and sombre-colored species 
chiefly inhabits the northern parts of America, particu- 
larly Hudson’s Bay and Newfoundland, from whence it 
sallies, at the approach of winter. It appears, occasion- 
ally at such seasons, in this part of Massachusetts, sail- 
ing over the wet meadows, at a low elevation, in search 
of mice, moles, and frogs, and is very shy and transitory 
in its visits. Like the other birds of this natural section, 
it watches for its prey while seated on the dead limb 
of a tree, or on a ledge of rock, from whence, accord- 
ing to Pennant, it is in the habit of watching the Ducks, 
ajid striking them as they rise, I have seen them soar- 
ing and traversing the marshes about Reedy Island in 
the Delaware, probably in the same pursuit, though 
sometimes contenting themselves with crabs and shell- 
fish when nothing better offered. 
This species seems to present a great diversity in its plumage. In 
Pennant’s figure the tail is broadly barred with white, and the upper 
parts are varied with black and dull white, with indications of trans- 
verse bars on the femorals. In length it is from 21 to 22 inches ; 
and 4 feet 2 inches in the stretch of the wings. The bill blackish. 
Cere, sides of the mouth, and feet yellow. Eye large, with the iris 
bright hazel. General color above brown black with lighter shades. 
Nape of the neck white below the surface. Lower parts black with 
slight shades of brown. The wings extend a little beyond the tip of 
the tail. The 5 first primaries are white on their inner vanes. Tail 
rounded, deep black, crossed with 5 narrow bands of white, and 
broadly tipped with dull white ; the vent black, spotted with white. 
Toes very short. 
