BIRDS-BUTEONINAE—ARCHIBUTEO SANCri-JOHANNIS. 
33 
This is one of the few North American birds which appear to be absolutely identical with a 
species of Europe. In both adult and young plumage, as described above, there are no char¬ 
acters whatever, so far as we can see, by which this bird can be distinguished from A. lagopus 
of Europe, and this identity is even more perfect in specimens from western North America. 
We regard the plumage first described above as undoubtedly the adult of this species, though 
it has never been given as such by any American author. It corresponds precisely, so far as we 
can see, with specimens from Europe in that stage of plumage well understood to be the adult of 
A. lagopus by all the German ornithologists, though apparently unknown to those of more 
southern and western Europe, and is figured in their works above cited. The regarding of this 
species as the young of A. sancti-johannis, which has been done to some extent by American 
naturalists, is assuredly erroneous. 
The figure in Audubon’s plate, cited above, (B. of Am., pi. 422, fig. 2,) may be regarded as 
very probably representing the adult of this bird, though so distorted in drawing and exagge¬ 
rated in color as to be very difficult of recognition. The best figure that we have seen of the 
adult is that in Nauman’s work, above cited. The young is well represented by various 
authors, American and European, as given above. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Original No. 
Collected by— 
Measurements. 
Remarks. 
Length. 
Extent 
Wing. 
6853 
Fort Steilaeoorn, W. T.... 
581 
21.50 
52.50 
legs and cere yellow 
bill black. 
8549 
Oct. 31, 1854 
109 
22.00 
52.00 
8545 
8545 
Nov. 9, 1853 
8544 
ARCHIBUTEO SANCTI-JOHANNIS, G m e 1 i n . 
The Black Hawk. 
Falco sancti-johannis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273, (1788.) 
Falco spadiceus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273, (1788.) 
Falco novx-terrce, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 274, (1788.) 
Falco niger, Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, p. 82, (1812.) 
Buteo ater, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. IV, p. 482, (1816.) 
Figures. —Wilson Am. Orn. VI, pi. 53, figs. 1, 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 422, fig. 1 ; pi. 166, (young?) 
Mult. —Entire plumage glossy black in many specimens with a brown tinge ; forehead, throat, and largo partially concealed 
spot on occiput, white. Tail with one transverse well defined band of white, and irregularly marked towards the base with the 
same color. Quills with their inner webs white, readily seen from below. Cere and toes yellow. Tarsi densely feathered in 
front ; naked behind. Other specimens aie entirely dark chocolate brown, with the head more or less striped with yellowish 
white and reddish yellow. Tail with several transverse bands of white, more or less imperfect and irregular. 
Young. —Upper parts light umber brown, with the feathers more or less edged with dull white and reddish yellow. Abdomen 
with a broad transverse band of brownish black ; other under parts pale yellowish white, with longitudinal stripes of brownish 
black, frequently giving the predominating color on the breast and sides; wings and tail brown, tinged with cinereous, the 
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