_Astur_, LACÉP. 1800. (Type, _Falco palumbarius_, LINN.) _Dædalion_, SAVIG. 1809. _Dædalium_, AGASS. _Sparvius_, VIEILL. 1816. _Aster_, SWAINS. 1837. _Leucospiza_, KAUP, 1844. (Type, _Falco novæ-hollandiæ_, GMEL.) The characters of this subgenus have been sufficiently indicated on page 221, so that it is unnecessary to repeat them here. The species of _Astur_ are far less numerous than those of _Nisus_, only about six, including geographical races, being known. They are found in nearly all parts of the world, except tropical America, the Sandwich Islands, and the East Indies. [Illustration: =58982=, ♀. ½ =58982=, ♀. ½ _Astur atricapillus._] Species and Races. =A. palumbarius.= Wing, 12.00–14.50; tail, 9.50–12.75; culmen, .80–1.00; tarsus, 2.70–3.15; middle toe, 1.70–2.20. Fourth quill longest; first shortest. _Adult._ Above, continuously uniform slate-color, or brown; the tail with several more or less distinct broad bands of darker, and narrowly tipped with white. Beneath white, with transverse lines or bars of the same color as the upper surface. Top of the head blackish; a streaked whitish superciliary stripe. _Young._ Above much variegated with brown and pale ochraceous; bands on the tail more sharply defined. Beneath pale ochraceous, with longitudinal stripes of dark brown. _Adult._ Above umber-brown, without conspicuously darker shaft-streaks; top of the head dull dusky. Markings on the lower parts in the form of sharply defined, broad, detached, crescentic bars, and of an umber tint; throat barred. Tail with five broad, well-defined bands of blackish. Wing, 12.25–14.25; tail, 9.40–11.10; culmen, .80–.95; tarsus, 2.80–3.15; middle toe, 1.80–2.20. _Hab._ Northern portions of the Old World … var. _palumbarius_.[83] _Adult._ Above bluish slate-color, with conspicuous darker shaft-streaks; top of the head deep black; markings on the lower parts in the form of irregularly defined, narrow, zigzag bars, or fine lines, of a bluish-slaty tint; throat not barred. Tail with only about four indistinct bands of blackish. Wing, 12.00–14.70; tail, 9.50–12.75; culmen, .80–1.00; tarsus, 2.70–3.20; middle toe, 1.70–2.00. _Hab._ Northern portions of North America … var. _atricapillus_. Astur palumbarius, var. atricapillus (WILS.). AMERICAN GOSHAWK.