. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . wrote of the black andthe brown phases as of two species, giving them distinct , following Audubon, considered the changes from light todark due only to age. Spencer Baird (in 1S58), Cassin, and agreed with Wilson. Later authorities, however, withmore material to aid them, have pronounced both views incorrect,and have decided that there is but one species, —that the black isbut a melanistic phase. Our systematists now separate the Ameri-can from the European form, giving to the former varietal rank,as it
. A popular handbook of the ornithology of eastern North America . wrote of the black andthe brown phases as of two species, giving them distinct , following Audubon, considered the changes from light todark due only to age. Spencer Baird (in 1S58), Cassin, and agreed with Wilson. Later authorities, however, withmore material to aid them, have pronounced both views incorrect,and have decided that there is but one species, —that the black isbut a melanistic phase. Our systematists now separate the Ameri-can from the European form, giving to the former varietal rank,as its trinomial appellation denotes. Nuttall does not mention the occurrence of this bird in Massa-chusetts, though Dr. Brewer states that at one time it was abun-dant near Boston, and within more recent years numbers have beencaptured by Mr. E. O. Damon on the Holyoke Hills, near Spring-field. It occurs within the United States principally as a wintervisitor when it ranges south to Virginia, its chief breeding-groundlying in the Labrador and Hudson Bay RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. WINTER LINEATUS. Char. Adult : general color dark reddish brown ; head and neck ru-fous ; below, lighter, with dark streaks and light bars; wings and tailblack with white bars; lesser wing-coverts chestnut. Young, with littleof the rufous tinge, below, buffy with dark streaks. Length 19 to 22inches. Nest. In a tree; of loosely arranged twigs, lined with grass andfeathers. Eggs. 2-4 ; bluish white or buffy blotched with brown , X This very elegant Hawk does not migrate or inhabit veryfar to the north. It is never seen in Massachusetts, nor per-haps much farther than the State of Pennsylvania. In theSouthern States, during winter, these birds are very common inswampy situations, where their quailing cry of mutual recogni-tion may be heard from the depths of the dark forest almost 44 BIRDS OF PREY. every morning of the season. This plaintive echouig noteresembles somewhat the garr
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsnorthamerica
