A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Synopsis of the Birds of North America, by John James Audubon

Transcriber's Note

This book contains numerous references to numbered Plates. Each plate had one or more illustrations pertinent to the species being discussed. The Plates were published and sold separately and were not included in this book.

SYNOPSIS OF THE BIRDS
OF
NORTH AMERICA.

A

SYNOPSIS OF THE BIRDS

OF

NORTH AMERICA.

BY

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, F.R.SS. L. & E.

MEMBER OF VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS IN
EUROPE AND AMERICA.

EDINBURGH:
ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, EDINBURGH;
LONGMAN, REES, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMAN,
LONDON.
MDCCCXXXIX.

PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO. OLD FISHMARKET EDINBURGH.

PREFACE.

I have been induced to present this Volume to the Public by two considerations. The figures and descriptions contained in the works entitled “The Birds of America,” and “Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States,” having been issued in the miscellaneous manner which was thought best adapted to the occasion, or which was rendered necessary by circumstances, seemed to require a systematic index, in which the nomenclature should be corrected, and the species arranged agreeably to my present views. This Synopsis, then, will afford a methodical catalogue of all the species hitherto discovered in the vast regions, extending from the northern confines of Mexico to the Polar Seas, and which have been described, and, with few exceptions, depicted in the works above named. Another important object has been to present an arrangement of these birds, so characterized, that a person desirous of studying them, might, without much difficulty, be enabled to discover their names, and trace some of the most important features in their organization.

The species are disposed into genera and families; and, although the location of the groups is not such as, in all respects, to satisfy me, the arrangement will, I trust, be found in some degree useful. It will be seen that, although I have adopted many of the modern groups, I have not sectioned our birds on so minutely divided a scale as that employed by some recent writers. Besides the characters of the Families, Genera, and Species, which are given with considerable detail, I have presented a short account of the Geographical Distribution of the species, and references to the principal authors by whom they have been described. I am confident that these notices will suffice to enable the student to determine with certainty any species that may come under his consideration, and that the information respecting its habits, which he will find in the works referred to, will afford him at least sufficient knowledge to form a basis for the more extended observation which he may contemplate. To the name of the genus I have appended that of the author by whom it has been instituted; and with the specific names I have dealt in the same manner, giving as authorities the individuals who first employed them, although they may have referred them to different genera. It is probable that many errors have been made in this department; but I shall be happy to see them corrected, as my wish is to do justice to all.

On this occasion I have again to acknowledge the benefit derived from the aid of my friend Mr Macgillivray, whose general knowledge of ornithology, and perfect candour, have rendered his advice peculiarly valuable.

J. J. AUDUBON.

Edinburgh, 1st July 1839.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

SYNOPSIS.

FAMILY I. VULTURINÆ. VULTURINE BIRDS, OR VULTURES.

Bill of moderate length, stout, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible rounded and thin-edged at the end. Head rather small, or of moderate size, ovato-oblong, and with part of the neck destitute of feathers. Eyes of moderate size, without projecting ridges. External aperture of ears rather small and simple. Skin over the fore part of the neck bare or merely downy. Tarsus rather stout, bare, and shorter than the middle toe; hind toe much smaller than the second; anterior toes connected at the base by a web; claws large, moderately curved, rather acute. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings very long, subacuminate. Œsophagus excessively wide, and dilated into a crop; stomach rather large, somewhat muscular, with a soft rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca extremely small. The young when fledged have the head and upper part of the neck generally covered with down. Eggs commonly two.

GENUS I. CATHARTES, Illiger. TURKEY-VULTURE.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate to the end of the large cere, then decurved, the edges a little festooned, rather thick, the tip descending and rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle long and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the edges sharp, towards the end decurved. Nostrils oblong, large, pervious. Head oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its edges serrate with reversed papillæ. Œsophagus dilated into an enormous crop; stomach moderately muscular; duodenum convoluted. Head and upper part of neck denuded, being only sparingly covered with very short down. Wings very long and extremely broad; third, fourth, and fifth primaries longest, first much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. Tarsus short, rather stout, roundish, reticulate. Hind toe very small, second a little shorter than fourth, third very long, all scutellate for more than half their length. Claws strong, arched, compressed, obtuse.

1. 1. Cathartes Californianus, Lath. Californian Turkey-Vulture.—Turkey-Buzzard.

Plate CCCCXXVI. Adult.

Nostrils small, elliptical, occupying only the posterior half of the nasal groove; feathers of the ruff and breast lanceolate and acuminate; primaries finely acuminate, fourth and fifth longest; tail rather short, even. Adult with the head bare and yellowish-red, the plumage brownish-black, the secondaries grey, tipped with white, their coverts large, tipped with the same. Young with the head downy and dusky, the plumage blackish-brown, the feathers edged with light brown, the secondary coverts tipped with brownish-white.

Male, length 50. Female, length 55.

California and Columbia Rivers. Resident in the south.

Cathartes Californianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 22.

Californian Vulture, Nuttall, Man. vi. p. 39.

Californian Vulture, Cathartes Californianus, Aud. v. v. p. 240.

2. 2. Cathartes Aura, Linn. Red-headed Turkey-Vulture.—Turkey-Buzzard. Turkey-Vulture.

Plate CLI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Young fledged.

Nostrils very large, elliptical, occupying the whole nasal cavity; feathers of the ruff and breast ovate, rounded; skin over the crop bare; tail rounded. Adult with the skin of the head and neck wrinkled and blood-red, the horny part of the bill yellowish-white; the plumage blackish-brown, deepest on the neck and under parts; feet flesh-coloured, tinged with yellow. Young when fledged with the skin of the head and neck dull flesh-coloured and more downy, the horny tip of the bill light blue, the plumage nearly as in the adult, but the wing-coverts and secondaries spotted with whitish.

Male.—Length 32, extent of wings 76.

From Texas to Pennsylvania. Inland westward to the Columbia River. Resident.

Turkey-Vulture or Turkey-Buzzard, Vultur Aura, Wils. v. ix. p. 96.

Cathartes Aura, Bonap. Syn. p. 22.

Cathartes Aura, Turkey-Vulture, Rich. & Swains. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 4.

Turkey-Vulture or Turkey-Buzzard, Nuttal, Man. v. ii. p. 43.

Turkey-Buzzard, Cathartes Aura, Aud. v. ii. p. 296; v. v. p. 339.

3. 3. Cathartes atratus, Wils. Black-headed Turkey-Vulture.—Black Vulture. Carrion Crow.

Plate CVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Nostrils very large, oblong, occupying the whole nasal cavity; feathers of the neck short, very broad, abruptly rounded, advancing farther on the hind part; skin over the crop feathered; tail even. Adult with the skin of the head and neck corrugated, dusky, the horny part of the bill greyish-yellow, the plumage bluish-black, feet yellowish-grey. Young when fledged with the head and neck closely covered with dusky down; the plumage blackish-brown.

Male, length 26, extent of wings 54.

From Texas to New Jersey. Up the Mississippi to the Ohio. Columbia River. Resident.

Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Vultur atratus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 104.

Cathartes Iota, Bonap. Syn. p. 23.

Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Cathartes Iota, Nuttal, Man. v. i. p. 46.

Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Aud. v. ii. p. 33; v. v. p. 345.

Cathartes atratus, Black Vulture, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 6.

FAMILY II. FALCONINÆ. FALCONINE BIRDS.

Bill short, stout, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible rounded and thin-edged at the end. Head rather large, broadly ovate, feathered. Eyes large, with prominent superciliary ridges. External aperture of ears of moderate size, and simple. Tarsus longer than the middle toe; claws very large, much curved, extremely acute. Plumage full and generally compact. Wings very long and broad. Œsophagus excessively wide and dilated into a crop; stomach large, somewhat membranous, its muscular fasciculi being placed in a single series; intestine short and rather wide, or very long and slender; cœca extremely small. The young, when fledged, generally having the lower parts longitudinally streaked. Eggs from two to six, ovate, or roundish. Nest on trees, rocks, or the ground.

GENUS I. POLYBORUS, Vieill. CARACARA.

Bill large, high, rather long, much compressed; cere large, covered with hair-like feathers; upper outline convex and declinate to the edge of the cere, then decurved; edge of upper mandible slightly arched and nearly even, tip of lower compressed and rounded. Nostrils elliptical, oblique, in the anterior part of the cere near the ridge. Eyelids and space anterior to the eye denuded, as is the skin over the crop. Feet rather long; tarsi anteriorly scutellate, sharp-edged and scaly behind; toes rather long, broadly scutellate, the first much shorter than the second; claws long, little curved, that of the middle toe being only slightly arched. Wings long, rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the first five having the inner web cut out. Tail rather long, rounded.

4. 1. Polyborus Braziliensis, Gmel. Brazilian Caracara.—Caracara Eagle.

Plate CLXI. Young.

Adult with the upper part of the head and nape brownish-black, the throat and ear-coverts yellowish-white; the upper parts finely barred with brown and dull white, the rump and tail lighter, the latter with a large terminal brown band; the lower parts similarly barred with reddish-white and brown. Young with the upper part of the head brown, streaked with dusky, the hind neck and part of the breast pale yellowish-red longitudinally variegated with brown; the middle of the back, scapulars, wing-coverts and secondaries dark brown, as are the hind part of the breast and the tibiæ; the tail nearly as in the adult.

Male, 23¹/₂, 48.

Texas and Florida. Resident.

Caracara Eagle Polyborus vulgaris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 350; v. v. p. 351.

GENUS II. BUTEO, Bechst. BUZZARD.

Bill short, with the upper outline nearly straight and declinate to the edge of the cere, then decurved, the sides rapidly sloping, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip trigonal, acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges arched, at the end deflected, the tip rounded. Head large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils, obovate, nearer the ridge than the margin. Neck rather short. Body full. Feet short, robust; tarsi roundish, anteriorly feathered half-way down, and scutellate, posteriorly also scutellate; toes of moderate length, scaly for half their length; claws long, arched, compressed, acuminate. Plumage full and rather blended. Space between the bill and eye covered with bristly feathers. Wings long, broad, the fourth quill longest, the first and seventh or eighth about equal; the first four abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, broad, slightly rounded. Cere and feet yellow; bill light blue at the base, black at the tip, in all the American species.

5. 1. Buteo Harrisii, Aud. Harris's Buzzard.

Plate CCCXCII. Female.

Bill higher and feet more robust than in the other species. Wings much rounded, the first quill four inches shorter than the fourth, which is longest, the seventh longer than the second. Chocolate-brown; wing-coverts and tibial feathers brownish-red; upper tail-coverts, base and end of tail white.

Female, 24, wing 15¹/₄.

Mississippi. Extremely rare. Migratory.

Louisiana Hawk, Falco Harrisii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 30.

6. 2. Buteo vulgaris, Willoughby. Common Buzzard.

Plate CCCLXXII. Female.

Upper parts chocolate-brown; primaries black toward the end, part of their inner webs white, barred with brownish-black; tail with about ten dusky bars on a reddish-brown ground, the last dark bar broader; eyelids whitish; throat white, longitudinally streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts yellowish or brownish-white, barred with brown. This species is subject to much variation in colour.

Female, 23 inches, wing 17.

Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and Fur Countries.

Buteo vulgaris, Common Buzzard, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 47.

Common Buzzard, Falco buteo, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 108.

7. 3. Buteo borealis, Gmel. Red-tailed Buzzard.—Red-tailed Hawk.—Hen Hawk.

Plate LI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, the back and scapulars dark brown, the latter broadly margined with brownish-white; smaller wing-coverts chocolate-brown; larger, lighter, tipped with white; primary quills blackish-brown, secondaries lighter, tipped with brownish-white, all barred with blackish; upper tail-coverts whitish, barred with brown; tail bright yellowish-red, with a narrow bar of black near the end, and tipped with whitish. Lower parts yellowish-white, the fore part of the breast with linear, guttiform, or sagittate spots; feathers of the leg and tarsus pale reddish-yellow. Female similar to the male, but with the upper parts darker, the lower nearly white, there being only a few narrow streaks on the sides of the breast. Young with the upper parts brown, streaked with yellowish-red, the tail-coverts yellowish-white barred with brown, the tail light greyish-brown, barred with dark brown and tipped with white; lower parts yellowish-white, with oblong longitudinal brown spots; the feathers of the sides and tibiæ barred with the same.

Male, 20¹/₂, 46. Female, 24.

From Texas northward to the Fur Countries, and westward to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Resident.

Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, Wils. Am. Orn. v. vi. p. 76. Adult.

American Buzzard or White-breasted Hawk, Falco leverianus, Wils. Am. Orn. v. vi. p. 78.

Buteo borealis, Red-tailed Buzzard, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 50.

Red-tailed Hawk or Buzzard, Falco borealis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 102.

Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. 1. p. 265; v. v. p. 378.

8. 4. Buteo Harlani, Aud. Harlan's Buzzard.—Black Warrior.

Plate LXXXVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Size of Common Buzzard, which it resembles in form and proportion. General colour of plumage deep chocolate-brown, glossed with greyish-blue; inner webs of quills white, those of the primaries barred with dusky toward the end; tail lighter than the back, rather narrowly barred with brownish-black, and tipped with brownish-red; lower parts paler, anteriorly streaked, posteriorly barred with brownish-black; lower wing-coverts whitish, spotted with deep brown.

Male, 21, 45. Female, 22.

Louisiana. Extremely rare.

Black Warrior, Falco Harlani, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 441. v. v. p. 380.

Black Buzzard, Falco Harlani, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 105.

9. 5. Buteo lineatus, Gmel. Red-breasted Buzzard.—Chicken Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Winter Hawk.

Plate LVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Adult.

Plate LXXI. Young male.

Adult with the head, neck, and back light yellowish-red, longitudinally spotted with dark brown; smaller wing-coverts deep yellowish-red, with the centre brown; larger coverts and secondary quills dusky, broadly barred with white; primary quills brownish-black, barred with white; tail brownish-black, narrowly banded and tipped with white. Lower parts of the neck and lower wing-coverts light yellowish-red, the former longitudinally lined with dusky and faintly barred with whitish, the rest of the lower parts barred with light red and reddish-white. Young with the upper parts deep brown, the tail-coverts, tail, and quills barred with brownish-white; the lower parts white, longitudinally streaked and spotted with brown.

Male, 21¹/₂, 44.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and westward to the Missouri. Very abundant. Resident.

Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco lineatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 86. Young.

Winter Falcon, Falco hyemalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 73. Adult.

Falco hyemalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 33.

Winter Falcon or Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco hyemalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 106.

Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco lineatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 296; v. v. p. 380.

Winter Hawk, Falco hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 364. Young.

10. 6. Buteo Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Broad-winged Buzzard.

Plate XCI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

General colour of upper parts umber-brown; quills blackish-brown, the greater part of their inner webs whitish, with narrow dusky bands; tail with three very broad bands of dark brown; alternating with two broad white bands, and the tips brownish-white; cheeks reddish-brown, with a dark mystachial band; lower parts yellowish-white, barred with light brown, that colour predominating anteriorly. Female similar, lighter above, more tinged with red beneath, where the spots are larger and more irregular. Young with the upper parts brown, streaked and spotted with white; the tail light greyish-brown, with seven dusky bars; lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally marked with linear-oblong brown spots.

Male, 16, 38. Female, 19.

From Maryland to Nova Scotia. Rare in the interior.

Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 92.

Falco Pennsylvanicus, Bonap. Syn. p. 29.

Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 105.

Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 461, v. v. p. 377.

11. 7. Buteo lagopus, Vigors. Rough-legged Buzzard.

Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 1. Old Male. Fig. 2. Young, first winter.

Plate CLXVI. Male. Middle age.

Tarsi feathered in their whole length. Adult male with the general colour of the plumage blackish-brown; the forehead and a large patch on the hind neck white, streaked with blackish-brown; all the feathers of the back, the scapulars, the wing-coverts, the quills, and the tail-feathers, white toward the base, and more or less barred with whitish-grey, or brown; axillar feathers, some of those on the sides, and some of the tibial feathers, with the lower tail-coverts similarly marked; the white forming a conspicuous patch on the under surface of the wing, occupying the greater part of the primaries as well as part of the inner webs of the secondaries; tail brownish-black, barred with greyish-white, there being six black bands on the middle feathers, the last very broad. Female of a uniform dark chocolate-brown, the tail banded, and the same parts white as in the male. Young with the head and neck streaked with umber-brown, and yellowish-white; back umber-brown, variegated with light reddish-brown and yellowish-white; quills dark brown towards the end, the outer webs of the first tinged with grey, the base of all white, that colour extending farther on the secondaries, of most of which, and of some of the primaries, the inner web is irregularly barred with brown; tail white at the base, brown toward the end, with a broad subterminal bar of brownish-black, the tips brownish-white; middle and hind part of the breast, with the sides, brownish-black, the rest of the lower parts pale yellowish-red, streaked or barred with dusky.

Male, 21¹/₂, 51¹/₂. Female, 23.

From Maryland northward. Columbia River. Not met with in the interior. Migratory. Not very abundant.

Black Hawk, Falco niger, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 82. Adult.

Falco lagopus, Bonap. Syn. p. 32. Young.

Falco Sanci-Johannis, Bonap. Syn. p. 32. Adult.

Buteo lagopus, Rough-legged Buzzard, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 52.

Rough-legged Falcon, Falco lagopus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 59, Young; v. v. p. 216, Adult and Young.

GENUS III. AQUILA, Briss. EAGLE.

Bill rather short, deep, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal outline nearly straight and sloping at the base, beyond the cere decurved, the sides sloping and slightly convex, the edges nearly straight, with a slight convexity and a shallow sinus close to the strong subtrigonal tip; lower mandible with the dorsal outline convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Head large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils oval, oblique, nearer the ridge than the margin. Neck rather short. Body very large. Feet rather short, very robust; tarsi roundish, feathered to the toes; which are rather short, united at the base by short webs, covered above with a series of angular scales, and towards the end with a few large scutella; claws long, curved, rounded, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage compact, imbricated, glossy; feathers of the head and neck narrow and pointed; space between the bill and eye covered with small bristle-pointed feathers disposed in a radiating manner. Wings long, the fourth quill longest; the first short; the outer six abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, ample, rounded.

12. 1. Aquila Chrysaetos, Linn. Golden Eagle.

Plate CLXXXI. Female.

General colour of the plumage dark brown glossed with purple; occiput, hind part and sides of the neck, light brownish-yellow; wing-coverts light brown; primary quills brownish-black, secondary with the coverts brown, those next the body more or less mottled with brownish-white, excepting at the ends; tail dark brown, lighter towards the base, with a few irregular whitish markings; feathers of the legs and tarsi, and lower tail-coverts, light yellowish-brown. Young with the basal three-fourths of the tail white.

Male, 32, 70. Female, 38, 84.

From Pennsylvania northward. Never seen far in the interior. Resident.

Falco fulvus, Bonap. Syn. p. 25.

Aquila Chrysaetos, Golden Eagle, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 12.

Ring-tailed Eagle, Falco fulvus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vii. p. 13.

Royal or Golden Eagle, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 62.

Golden Eagle, Falco Chrysaetos, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. ii. p. 464.

GENUS IV. HALIAETUS, Savigny. SEA-EAGLE.

Bill rather short, very deep, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal outline nearly straight at the base, beyond the cere decurved, the sides sloping, the edges nearly straight, with a slight obtuse process, and a shallow sinus close to the strong trigonal tip; lower mandible, with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Head large, oblong, flattened above. Nostrils oblong, oblique, near the ridge. Neck of moderate length. Body very large. Feet rather short, very robust; tarsi roundish, covered anteriorly with the transverse scutella, posteriorly with large, laterally with small scales; toes robust, free, scutellate above; claws large, curved, rounded, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow and pointed; space between the bill and eye barish, being sparsely covered with bristle-like feathers, disposed in a radiating manner. Wings long, the second and third quills longest, the outer five cut out abruptly on the inner web. Tail rather long, rounded. Duodenum convoluted.

13. 1. Haliaetus Washingtoni, Aud. Washington Sea-Eagle.

Plate XI. Male.

Tarsus and toes uniformly scutellate in their whole length. Bill bluish-black, cere yellowish-brown, feet orange-yellow, claws bluish-black. Upper part of the head, hind neck, back, scapulars, rump, tail-coverts, and posterior tibial feathers blackish-brown, glossed with a coppery tint; throat, fore-neck, breast, and belly light brownish-yellow, each feather with a central blackish-brown streak; wing-coverts light greyish-brown, those next the body becoming darker; primary quills dark brown, deeper on their inner webs; secondaries lighter, and on their outer webs of nearly the same light tint as their coverts; tail uniform dark brown.

Male, 43, 122.

From Louisiana northward. Exceedingly rare. The specimen figured procured in Kentucky. One seen in Labrador.

Bird of Washington, Falco Washingtonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 58.

14. 2. Haliaetus leucocephalus, Linn. White-headed Sea-Eagle.—Bald Eagle.

Plate XXXI. Adult Male. Plate CXXVI. Young.

Male. Tarsus with a few scutella; toes terminally scutellate. Male with the bill, cere, iris, and feet yellow; the head, the neck for half its length, the rump, upper and lower tail-coverts, and tail white; the rest of the plumage chocolate-brown, the terminal margins of all the feathers pale greyish-brown. Female similar. Young with the bill brownish-black, iris dark brown, feet yellow; the general colour of the plumage very dark chocolate, uniform, the feathers without edgings, all white at the base, that colour appearing more or less on the hind part, and more especially on the fore part and sides of the neck, and on the sides of the body and lower wing-coverts; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, tinged with grey toward the base; the latter with the greater part of the inner webs, and a portion of the outer brownish-white, freckled with dusky. In more advanced stages the colours of the plumage vary considerably in different individuals. The general tint continues brown for several years, a variable and often a large proportion of white, or brownish-white, appearing on the neck, the lower part of the body, the sides, and under the wings, the tail meanwhile gradually becoming white in freckled patches, some have a large patch of brownish-white across the breast. When the feathers are new, they are of a glossy deep brown, but when old and worn they present a bleached appearance, and the upper parts are often patched with pale brown or brownish-white. On account of these circumstances, individuals of different ages, and shot at different periods of the year, differ so much from each other in appearance, that one might, without a very extended comparison, conceive that in a collection of specimens, there might be several species. The bill remains dark until the head and tail become white; the anterior tarsal scutella differ from none to six, the posterior from nine to twelve; those on the hind toe are four, on the middle toe from nine to thirteen.

Male, 34, 84.

Throughout North America. Resident in the south and west.

Bald Eagle, Falco Haliaetus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iv. p. 89. Adult.

Sea Eagle, Falco ossifragus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vii. p. 16. Young.

Falco leucocephalus, Bonap. Synops. p. 26.

Aquila leucocephala, White-headed Eagle, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor Amer. v. ii. p. 15.

White-headed or Bald Eagle, Falco leucocephalus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 72.

White-headed Eagle, Falco leucocephalus, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. i. p. 160, v. ii. p. 160, v. v. p. 354.

GENUS V. PANDION, Sav. OSPREY.

Bill short, as broad as deep at the base, the sides convex, the dorsal outline straight at the base, decurved towards the end; upper mandible with a festoon on the edges at the curvature, the tip trigonal, very acute; lower mandible with the edges slightly arched, the tip obtusely truncate. Nostrils oval, oblique, large, half-way between the ridge and the cere. Legs rather long; tarsus very short, remarkably thick, covered all round with hexagonal scales; toes also remarkably thick, the outer versatile larger than the inner, all scutellate only towards the end, and covered beneath with prominent, conical, acuminate scales; claws long, curved, convex beneath, tapering to a fine point. Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow, acuminate; of the tarsus short and very narrow, without the elongated external tufts seen in all the other genera. Tail rather long, a little rounded. Intestine extremely long and slender, its greatest width 2¹/₄ twelfths, the smallest ¹/₂ twelfth.

15. 1. Pandion Haliaetus. Common Osprey.—Fish Hawk. Fishing Eagle.

Plate LXXXI. Adult male.

Bill bluish-black, cere light blue, feet pale greyish-blue tinged anteriorly with yellow. General colour of upper parts deep umber-brown, the tail barred with whitish on the inner webs; the upper part of the head and neck white, the middle part of the crown dark brown; a broad band of the latter colour from the bill down the side of the neck; lower parts white, the neck streaked with light brown; anterior tibial feather tinged with brown. Young with the feathers of the upper parts broadly tipped with brownish-white, the lower pure white.

Male, 23, 54. Female, 25¹/₂, 58.

From Texas northward, and throughout the interior, as well as along the north-west coast. Resident in the south.

Fish Hawk, Falco Haliaetus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 13.

Falco Haliaetus, Bonap. Syn. p. 26.

Fish Hawk or Osprey, Falco Haliaetus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 415, v. v. p. 362.

GENUS VI. ELANUS, Sav. ELANUS.

Bill short, small, very wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate to the end of the cere, then decurved, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow and acute, the edges with a distinct festoon, lower mandible with the angle very wide and long, the dorsal line very short, and slightly convex, the tip obliquely truncate, and narrow. Nostrils elliptical, rather large, about half-way between the cere and ridge. Head rather large, broad, flattened above; neck short; body compact. Legs rather short; tarsus very short, stout, roundish, feathered anteriorly for half its length, the rest covered with small roundish scales; toes short, thick, scaly, with a few terminal scutella; claws long, curved, conical, rounded beneath, acute. Plumage very soft, and rather blended. Wings very long and pointed, the second quill longest. Tail of moderate breadth, long, emarginate, and rounded.

16. 1. Elanus dispar, Temm. Black-shouldered Elanus.

Plate CCCLII. Male and Female.

Ash-grey above; head, tail, and lower parts white, with a large bluish-black patch on the wing above, and a smaller beneath; feet orange-yellow. Young with the upper parts brownish-grey, the larger feathers tipped with white, the patches on the wings brownish-black.

Male, 14, 40. Female, 16³/₄, 41¹/₂.

From Texas to North Carolina. Rare. Never far inland. Migrates southward.

Black-winged Hawk, Falco melanopterus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii.

Falco melanopterus, Bonap. Syn. p. 31. Falco dispar, App. p. 435.

Black-shouldered Hawk, Falco dispar, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 397.

GENUS VII. ICTINIA, Vieillot. ICTINIA.

Bill very short, wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved in its whole length, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow and acute, the edges with an obtuse lobe; lower mandible with the angle very wide, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the tip rather broad and obliquely truncate. Nostrils round, lateral, with a central papilla. Head rather large, roundish, broad, flattened; neck short, body compact. Legs rather short; tarsus stout, covered anteriorly with scutella; toes scutellate above, scabrous beneath, with pointed papillæ; claws rather long, curved, acuminate, flattened beneath. Plumage rather compact. Wings very long, the third quill longest. Tail long, emarginate.

This genus is easily distinguished from Elanus; the tarsi and toes being scutellate in this, and scaly in that; and the festoon on the upper mandible is much more prominent in Ictinia, while the nostrils, instead of being elliptical, are round, as in the Falcons.

17. 1. Ictinia plumbea, Gmel. Mississippi Ictinia.—Mississippi Kite.

Plate CXVII. Male and Female.

Head, secondary quills, and lower parts light ash-grey; back and wing coverts dark leaden-grey; primaries black, margined externally with deep red; tail bluish-black; scutella dark purplish-red.

Male, 14, 36. Female, 15.

From Texas, where it is abundant, to North Carolina; up the Mississippi to Natchez. Migratory.

Mississippi Kite, Falco Mississippiensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 80.

Falco plumbeus, Bonap. Syn. p. 90.

Mississippi Kite, Falco plumbeus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 108, v. v. p. 374.

GENUS VIII. NAUCLERUS, Vig. SWALLOW-TAILED-HAWK.

Bill short, wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved from the base, the sides slightly convex, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip narrow and acute; lower mandible with the angle very wide, the dorsal line straightish, the tip rounded and declinate. Nostrils round, with a central papilla. Head rather large, roundish, flattened; neck short; body compact. Feet short; tarsus very short, thick, scaly all round; toes scutellate above, scabrous beneath, with pointed papillæ; claws rather long, curved, acuminate. Plumage blended, glossy. Wings extremely long, pointed, the third quill longest; secondaries short. Tail extremely long, very deeply forked.

18. 1. Nauclerus furcatus, Linn. Common Swallow-tailed Hawk.

Plate LXXII. Male.

Head, neck all round, and lower parts white; back, wings, and tail black, glossed with blue and purple; feet light blue, tinged with green; claws flesh-coloured.

Male, 22, 47. Female, 25, 51¹/₂.

From Texas to North Carolina. Rather abundant. Up the Mississippi and Ohio to Louisville. Accidental in Pennsylvania. Migratory.

Swallow-tailed Hawk, Falco furcatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 70.

Falco furcatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 31.

Swallow-tailed Hawk, Falco furcatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 368. v. v. p. 371.

GENUS IX. FALCO, Linn. FALCON.

Bill short, robust; its upper outline decurved from the base; cere short, bare; edge of upper mandible with a festoon and a prominent angular process. Nostrils round, with an internal ridge, ending in a central tubercle. Feet strong; tarsi moderate, reticulate; toes long, broadly scutellate, the anterior webbed at the base; claws long, well curved, very acute. Wings long, pointed; second quill longest, first and third nearly equal; outer toe abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, nearly even.

19. 1. Falco Islandicus, Lath. Iceland or Jer Falcon—Gyr Falcon. Labrador Falcon.

Plate CCCLXVI. Adult Female. Plate CXCVI. Young Male and Female.

Tooth-like process of the bill generally obsolete in old, festoon slight in young birds; tail from three to four inches longer than the wings. Adult white, with slate-grey sagittate spots above, the bill pale blue, the cere and feet yellow. Younger birds light grey, the feathers white on the edges; the bill and cere light blue, the feet greyish-blue. Young brownish-grey above, the feathers margined and spotted with reddish-white, the lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally streaked with dusky.

Male, 22¹/₂, 49. Female, 23¹/₂, 51¹/₄.

Breeds in the extreme north, and in Labrador. In winter, migrates southward as far as Maine.

Falco Islandicus, Jer Falcon, Rich. & Swains. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 27.

Gyr Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 51.

Iceland or Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 466. Adult Female.

Iceland or Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 552. Young Male and Female.

20. 2. Falco peregrinus, Gmel. Peregrine Falcon.—Large-footed Hawk. Duck Hawk. Wandering Falcon.

Plate XVI. Adult Male and Female.

Wings, when closed, of nearly the same length as the tail. Adult male with the upper parts greyish-black, excepting the head and hind neck barred with light greyish-blue, lower parts white, the breast and sides transversely spotted with black. Female with the upper parts darker than those of the male, the lower yellowish or reddish-white, with larger dusky spots on the breast and sides, and oblong streaks on the neck. Young blackish-brown above, the breast of the male yellowish-white, of the female pale yellowish-red, with broad longitudinal dusky streaks. In all stages, a large mystachial patch, black in adult, brown in young birds.

Male, 16¹/₂, 30. Female, 19¹/₂, 36.

Breeds in the northern parts, visiting the southern and western in winter as far as Texas.

Great-footed Hawk, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 120.

Falco peregrinus, Bonap. Synops. p. 27.

Common or Wandering Falcon, Falco peregrinus, Nuttall, Man. v. i. p. 53.

Great-footed Hawk, Falco peregrinus, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 85; v. v. p. 365.

Falco peregrinus, Peregrine Falcon, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 23.

21. 3. Falco columbarius, Linn. Pigeon Falcon.—Pigeon Hawk.

Plate LXXV. Young Male and Female. Plate XCII. Adult Male.

Wings from two to three inches shorter than the tail, on the middle feathers of which are five, on the lateral six broad whitish bands. Adult male with the cere greenish-yellow, the feet pale orange, the upper parts light bluish-grey, each feather with a black central line; lower parts reddish or yellowish white, the breast and sides with large oblong brown spots; tibial feathers light red, streaked with blackish-brown. Female with the cere and legs greenish-yellow, the upper parts dark greyish-brown, the lower pale red, spotted as in the male. Young with the head light reddish-brown, streaked with dusky, the upper parts brownish-grey, the feathers margined and spotted with pale red, throat white, lower parts pale red, streaked with brown. The tail-bands vary from pale red to white.

This species is so nearly allied to Falco Æsalon, that it is extremely difficult to distinguish many individuals. The number and form of the scutella differ; but the most certain distinctive character is found in the light-coloured bands of the tail, which are more numerous in the Merlin, there being seven on its middle, and nine on its lateral tail-feathers.

Male, 10³/₄, 27. Female, 14, 30.

From Texas northward. Breeds in the Labrador and Arctic regions. Abundant. Migratory.

Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 107.

Falco columbarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.

Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 60.

Little Corporal Hawk, Falco temerarius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 61. Adult Male.

Falco columbarius, Pigeon Hawk, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 35.

Falco Æsalon, Merlin, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 37.

Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 466; Young, v. i. p. 381, Male; v. v. p. 368.

22. 4. Falco sparverius, Linn. Sparrow Falcon.—Sparrow Hawk.

Plate CXLII. Male and Female.

Male with the upper part of the head and wing-coverts light greyish-blue, seven black spots round the head, and a light red patch on the crown; back light red, spotted with black; tail red, with a broad subterminal black band. Female with the head nearly as in the male, the back, wing-coverts, and tail, banded with light red and dusky. Young similar to the female, but with more red on the head, which is streaked with dusky.

Male, 12. Female, 12.

Generally distributed. Resident in the south. Abundant.

American Sparrow-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 117.

Falco sparverius, Bonap. Syn. p. 27.

American sparrow-hawk, Falco sparverius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 58.

Falco sparverius, Little Rusty-crowned Falcon, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 31.

American Sparrow-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 246; v. v. p. 370.

GENUS X. ASTUR, Cuv. HAWK.

Bill short, robust; its upper outline sloping, and nearly straight at the base, then decurved; cere short, bare above; edge of upper mandible with a festoon, succeeded by a broad sinus. Nostrils elliptical. Feet of moderate length; tarsi moderate or slender, feathered at least one-third of their length, broadly scutellate before and behind; first and second toes strongest and equal, third much longer, and connected at the base by a web with the third, which is shortest; claws long, well curved, acuminate. Wings very broad, of moderate length, much rounded, fourth and fifth quills longest, first much shorter, outer four abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail long, much exceeding the wings, rounded.

Those of more slender form, with proportionally longer tails and tarsi, are separated by many authors to form a group, to which the name of Accipiter and Nisus are given.

23. 1. Astur palumbarius, Linn. Gos Hawk.

Plate CXLI. Fig. 1. Adult Male. Fig. 2. Young.

Adult male dark bluish-grey above, the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, the upper part of the head greyish-black; a white band, with black lines, over the eyes; lower parts white, narrowly barred with grey, and longitudinally streaked with dark brown. Young brown above, the feathers edged with reddish-white, the head and hind neck pale red, streaked with blackish-brown, the lower parts yellowish-white, with oblong longitudinal dark brown spots.

Male, 24, 47.

From Maryland, northward. From Kentucky, northward. Migratory.

Ash-coloured or Black-capped Hawk, Falco atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 80.

Falco palumbarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 28.

American Goshawk, Falco atricapillus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 85.

Accipiter (Astur) Palumbarius, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 39.

Goshawk, Falco palumbarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 241.

24. 2. Astur Cooperi, Bonap. Cooper's Hawk.

Plate CXLI. Fig. 3. Adult Male. Plate XXXVI. Young Male and Female.

Tail rounded, tarsi moderately stout. Adult male dull bluish-grey above; the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, and tipped with white; the upper part of the head greyish-black; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white, the throat white, longitudinally streaked. Female similar, with the bands on the breast broader. Young umber-brown above, more or less spotted with white, the tail with four blackish-brown bars; lower parts white, each feather with a longitudinal narrow, oblong, brown spot.

Male, 20, 36. Female, 22, 38.

From Louisiana northward, and all over the interior, in winter. Some breed in the United States. Columbia River.

Cooper's Hawk, Falco Cooperii. Bonap. Amer. Orn. Young.

Falco Cooperii, Bon. Syn. App. p. 433. Young.

Stanley Hawk, Falco Stanleii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 245. Adult Male.

Stanley Hawk, Falco Stanleii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 186. Young.

25. 3. Astur fuscus, Gmel. Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Plate CCCLXXIV. Adult Male and Female.

Tail even, tarsi extremely slender. Adult male bluish-grey above; the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, and tipped with white; upper part of head darker; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white, the throat white, longitudinally streaked. Female similar, more tinged with yellow beneath, and with the bands on the breast broader. Young umber-brown above, more or less spotted with white, the tail with four dark brown bars; lower parts white, each feather with a longitudinal narrow, oblong, brown spot. Miniature of Falco Cooperii, and intimately allied to Astur Nisus.

Male, 11¹/₄, 20¹/₂. Female, 14, 26.

Generally distributed. Not very abundant. Migratory.

Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 13. Adult Male.

Sharp-shinned Hawk, Falco velox, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 116. Young Female.

Falco velox, Bonap. Syn. p. 29.

Falco fuscus, Bonap. Syn. Append. p. 433.

Accipiter Pennsylvanicus, Slate-coloured Hawk, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 44.

American Brown or Slate-coloured Hawk, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 87.

Sharp-shinned or Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco fuscus, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 522. Adult.

GENUS XI. CIRCUS, Bechst. HARRIER.

Bill short, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping to beyond the cere, then decurved, the sides sloping, the edge with a festoon a little anterior to the nostril, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and convex, the tip rounded. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, with an oblique ridge from their upper edge. Head of moderate size, oblong, neck rather short; body slender. Legs long and slender; tarsi long, compressed, anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate; toes slender, scutellate unless at the base; claws long, compressed, moderately curved, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage very soft; a distinct ruff of narrow feathers from behind the eye on each side to the chin, the aperture of the ear being very large. Wings long, much rounded, the fourth quill longest; outer four quills with their inner webs sinuate. Tail straight, long, slightly rounded. Quills and tail-feathers covered with velvety down.

26. 1. Circus cyaneus, Linn. Common Harrier.

Plate CCCLVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Fig. 3. Young.

Adult male light ash-grey; abdomen, tail-coverts, lower wing-coverts, inner webs of secondary quills and tail-feathers, white, primaries black toward the end. Female umber-brown above, head, hind neck and scapulars, streaked with light red; tail-coverts white; tail banded with light red; lower parts light yellowish-red, the neck streaked with brown. Young like the female, but lighter.

Male, 19³/₄, 44. Female, 20¹/₂, 46³/₄.

Breeds from Texas northward. Columbia River.

Marsh Hawk, Falco uliginosus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 67. Young Female.

Falco cyaneus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 30.

Hen-Harrier or Marsh Hawk, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 109.

Marsh Hawk, Falco cyaneus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 396.

Buteo (Circus) cyaneus? var? Americanus, American Hen-Harrier, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 55.

FAMILY III. STRIGINÆ. OWLS.

Bill very short, strong, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible with the end rounded and thin-edged. Head extremely large, owing to the wide separation of the tables of the cranium, roundish, more or less vertically flattened behind, feathered. Eyes excessively large, with prominent superciliary ridges, and encircled by series of decomposed feathers. External aperture of ear always very large, frequently excessive, simple or operculate. Tarsus short, very short, or of moderate length, always feathered, as are the toes, of which the outer is versatile, the first shorter than the second, the anterior free; claws very long, slender, curved, extremely acute. Plumage very full and soft. Wings long, broad, rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills longest, the filaments of the outer more or less enlarged and recurved at the end. Tail broad, rather short or of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Œsophagus very wide, without crop or dilatation; stomach very large, round, somewhat membranous, its muscular fasciculi being placed in a single series; intestine short and wide; cœca large, oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the base. Young at first covered with light-coloured down, when fledged, with the face darker than that of adults. Eggs white, somewhat globular or broadly ovate, from four to six. Nests rudely constructed, in hollow trees, on branches, in buildings, or on the ground.

GENUS I. SURNIA, Dumeril. DAY-OWL.

Bill very short, strong, its upper outline decurved from the base; lower mandible abruptly rounded, with a sinus on each side. Nostrils elliptical, rather large. Aperture of ear elliptical, simple, not more than half the height of the head. Feet strong; tarsi very short or of moderate length. Plumage rather dense; facial disks incomplete above. Wings very large, the third quill longest, the first with the filaments thickened and a little free, but scarcely recurved at the end. Tail varying in length.

27. 1. Surnia funerea, Gmel. Hawk Day-Owl.—Hawk Owl.

Plate CCCLXXVIII. Male and Female.

Tail long, much rounded, the lateral feathers two inches shorter than the middle. Upper part of head brownish-black, closely spotted with white, hind neck black, with two broad longitudinal bands of white spots; rest of upper parts dark brown, spotted with white; tail with eight transverse bars of white, the feathers tipped with the same; facial disks greyish-white, margined with black; lower parts transversely barred with brown and dull white.

Male, 15³/₄, 31¹/₂. Female, 17¹/₂.

From New Jersey on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward; but not in the central plains. Migratory.

Hawk Owl, Strix hudsonica, Wils. v. vi. p. 64.

Strix funerea, Bonap. Syn. p. 35.

Hawk Owl, Strix funerea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 115.

28. 2. Surnia nyctea, Linn. Snowy Day-Owl.—Snowy Owl.

Plate CXXI. Male and Female.

Tail rather long, moderately rounded; plumage white; head and back spotted; wings, tail, and lower parts barred with dusky brown. Young pure white. Individuals vary much in markings.

Male, 21, 53. Female, 26, 65.

From South Carolina on the east, and Columbia River on the west, northward. Migratory.

Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 116.

Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 135: v. v. p. 382.

29. 3. Surnia passerina, Linn. Passerine Day-Owl.—Little Night Owl.

Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 3. Female.

Tail rather short, arched, nearly even; wings almost as long as the tail, the outer four quills cut out on the inner web, the outer five sinuated on the outer; filaments of the first free and slightly recurved, as are those of the second and third beyond the sinus. General colour of upper parts chocolate-brown, the feather of the head with an oblong median white mark; hind neck with very large white spots, forming a conspicuous patch; on the back most of the feathers with a single large subterminal roundish spot, as is the case with the scapulars and wing-coverts, most of which, however, have two or more spots; quills with marginal reddish-white spots on both webs, the third with six on the outer and four on the inner, with two very faint pale bars toward the end; the tail similarly marked with four bands of transversely oblong, reddish-white spots; feathers of the anterior part of the disk whitish, with black shafts, of the lower part whitish, of the hind part brown tipped with greyish-white; a broad band of white crossing the throat, and curving upwards on either side to the ear; a patch of white on the lower part of the fore-neck; between these a brownish-grey band. Lower parts dull yellowish-white, each feather with a broad longitudinal band of chocolate-brown; abdomen and lower tail-coverts unspotted; tarsal feathers dull white.

Female, 10¹/₂; wing from flex. 6¹/₄; tail 3¹/₂.

From Nova Scotia eastward. Rather rare.

Little Night Owl, Strix passerina, Aud. v. v. p. 269.

31. 5. Surnia cunicularia, Gmel. Burrowing Day-Owl.

Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Feet rather long, slender; tarsus covered with short soft feathers, of which the shafts only remain toward the lower part; toes short, their upper surface covered with bristles or the shafts of feathers; tail short, arched, narrow, slightly rounded. Bill greyish-yellow; claws black. General colour of upper parts light yellowish-brown, or umber-brown, spotted with white; the quills with triangular reddish-white spots from the margins of both webs, there being five on each web of the first; the tail similarly barred, there being on the middle feathers four double spots, and the tips of all white. Face greyish-white; throat and ruff white, succeeded by a mottled brown band, beneath which is a patch of white; the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white, with broad bars of light reddish-brown, which are closer on the sides of the breast; abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and legs without spots.

Male, 10, 24. Female, 11.

Prairies west of the Mississippi. Abundant.

Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Say, in Long's Exped. v. i. p. 200.

Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 68.

Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 264.

Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 118.

30. 4. Surnia passerinoides, Temm. Columbian Day-Owl.

Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 4, 5. Male.

Tail of moderate length, straight, slightly rounded; wings rather short, much rounded, fourth quill longest, outer three abruptly cut out on the inner web, the first with its filaments thickened but not recurvate, those of the second and third also thickened toward the end. General colour of the upper parts olivaceous brown; the head with numerous small, roundish, yellowish-white spots margined with dusky, of which there are two on each feather; the rest of the upper parts marked with larger, angular, whitish spots; the quills generally with three small and five large white spots on the outer and inner webs; the tail barred with transversely oblong white spots, of which there are seven pairs on the middle feathers. Facial disk brown, spotted with white; throat white, then a transverse brown band, succeeded by white; the lower parts white, with longitudinal brownish-black streaks, the sides brown, faintly spotted with paler. Young with the upper parts rufous, the head with fewer and smaller white spots; those on the lower part of the hind neck very large; the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts unspotted; the wings marked as in the adult, but with pale red spots in the outer, and reddish-white on the inner webs; the tail with only five bands of spots; the lower parts white, longitudinally streaked with light red, of which colour are the sides of the body and neck, and a band across the throat.

Male, 7, wing 3^7½/₁₂.

Columbia River.

Cheveche chevechoide, Strix passerinoides, Temm. Pl. Col. 344.

Little Columbian Owl, Strix passerinoides, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 271.

GENUS II. ULULA. NIGHT-OWL.

Bill short, strong, very deep, its upper outline decurved from the base; lower mandible abruptly rounded, with a notch on each side. Nostrils broadly elliptical, rather large. Conch of ear very large, elliptical, extending from the base of the lower jaw to near the top of the head, with an anterior semicircular operculum in its whole length. Feet rather short, strong; tarsi and toes covered with very soft downy feathers. Plumage full, and very soft; facial disks complete. Wings rather long, very broad, much rounded, the third quill longest; the filaments of the first, half of the second, and the terminal part of the third, free and recurved. Tail of moderate length, arched, slightly rounded.

32. 1. Ulula Tengmalmi, Gmel. Tengmalm's Night-Owl.

Plate CCCLXXX. Male and Female.

General colour of upper parts greyish-brown tinged with olive; feathers of the head with an elliptical central white spot; those of the neck with a larger spot; scapulars with two or four large round spots near the end, and some of the dorsal feathers and wing-coverts with single spots on the outer web; all the quills margined with white spots on both webs, arranged in transverse series, there being six on the outer web of the third; on the tail five series of transversely elongated white spots. Disk yellowish-white, anteriorly black; ruff yellowish-white, mottled with dusky; throat brown, chin white; lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally streaked with brown; some of the feathers of the sides with two white spots; tarsal and digital feathers greyish-yellow, with faint transverse brown bars.

Male, 11, wing 6¹⁰/₁₂. Female, 12.

From Maine on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward.

Strix Tengmalmi, Tengmalm's Owl, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 94.

Tengmalm's Owl, Strix Tengmalmi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 559.

33. 2. Ulula Acadica, Gmel. Acadian Night-Owl.—Little Owl. Saw-whet.

Plate CXCIX. Male and Female.

General colour of upper part olivaceous brown; scapulars and some of the wing-coverts spotted with white; the first six primary quills obliquely barred with white; tail darker, with two narrow white bars; upper part of head streaked with greyish-white; disks pale yellowish-grey; ruff white, spotted with dusky. Lower parts whitish, the sides and breast marked with broad elongated patches of brownish-red.

Male, 7¹/₂, 17. Female, 8¹/₂, 18.

From North Carolina on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward.

Little Owl, Strix passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 61.

Strix acadica, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.

Strix acadica, American Sparrow Owl, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 97.

Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 137.

Little or Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 567: v. v. p. 397.

GENUS III. STRIX, Linn. SCREECH-OWL.

Bill short, compressed, deep, strong; upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight to the end of the cere, then curved, the sides nearly flat and erect, the tip deflected, with a rounded but sharp-edged point; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex, the sides convex, the edges arched, the tip obliquely truncate. Conch of the ear semicircular, extending from over the anterior angle of the eye to the middle of the lower jaw; aperture large, somewhat square, with an anterior operculum fringed with feathers. Legs rather long, tarsus long, feathered, scaly at the lower part; toes large, the first short, the inner nearly as long as the middle, all with series of small tuberculiform oblong scales, intermixed with a few bristles, and three broad scutella at the end. Claws arched, long, extremely sharp, the edge of the third thin and transversely cracked in old birds. Plumage very soft and downy; facial disks complete. Wings long, ample, rounded; the first quill with the filaments recurved. Tail rather short, even.

34. 1. Strix Americana, Aud. American Screech-Owl.—Barn Owl.

Plate CLXXI. Male and Female.

Feathers margining the operculum with the shaft and webs undeveloped. Bill pale greyish-yellow; claws and scales brownish-yellow. General colour of upper parts greyish-brown, with light yellowish-red interspersed, produced by very minute mottling; each feather having toward the end a central streak of deep brown, terminated by a small oblong greyish-white spot; wings similarly coloured; secondary coverts and outer edges of primary coverts with a large proportion of light brownish-red; quills and tail transversely barred with brown; lower parts pale brownish-red, fading anteriorly into white, each feather having a small dark brown spot at the tip.

Closely allied to Strix flammea, but larger, and differing somewhat in colour, being generally darker, with the ruff red. A character by which they may always be distinguished is found in the operculum, the feathers margining which are in the present species reduced to their tubes, the shafts and filaments being wanting, whereas in the European species each tube bears a very slender shaft, about half an inch long, and furnished with about half a dozen filaments on each side.

Male, 17, 42. Female, 18, 46.

Southern States. Breeds from Texas to North Carolina. Never seen in the interior, or to the north. Rather common.

White or Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 57.

Strix flammea, Bonap. Synops. p. 38.

White or Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 139.

Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 403: v. v. p. 388.

GENUS IV. SYRNIUM, Cuv. HOOTING-OWL.

Bill short, stout, broad at the base; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex to the end of the cere, then curved, the sides sloping and nearly flat, the tip compressed, decurved, acute; lower mandible small, with the dorsal line convex, the tip narrow, the edges decurved toward the end. Nostrils large, elliptical. Conch of the ear of medium size, and furnished with an anterior semicircular operculum, beset with slender feathers. Legs rather short; tarsi very short, and with the toes feathered. Claws slightly curved, long, slender, compressed, acuminate. Plumage very soft and downy; facial disks complete. Wings very large, much rounded, the outer quill with the tips of the filaments separated and recurved, as are those of the terminal portion of the next; the outer six with the inner webs sinuate. Tail broad, rounded.

35. 1. Syrnium cinereum, Linn. Great Cinereous Hooting-Owl.—Cinereous Owl.

Plate CCCLI. Female.

Upper parts greyish-brown, variegated with greyish-white in irregular undulated markings; the feathers on the upper part of the head with two transverse white spots on each web; the smaller wing-coverts of a darker brown, and less mottled than the back; the outer scapulars with more white on their outer webs; primaries blackish-brown toward the end, in the rest of their extent marked with a few broad light grey oblique bands, dotted and undulated with darker; tail similarly barred; ruff-feathers white toward the end, dark brown in the centre; disks on their inner sides grey, with black tips, in the rest of their extent greyish-white, with six bars of blackish-brown very regularly disposed in a concentric manner; lower parts greyish-brown, variegated with greyish and yellowish-white; feet barred with the same.

Female, 30¹/₂, 48¹/₂.

From Massachusetts on the east, and Columbia River on the west, northward. Migratory.