Sexual dimorphism in north American hawks I. Sex organs

The development of the gonads of the marsh hawk, Circus hudsonius, Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperi, and the red‐tailed hawk, Buteo borealis borealis has been investigated. The occurrence and relatively long persistence of the cortex on both testes of the marsh hawk is evidence of bilateral amphisexuality in this form. The embryonic condition of the ovaries is related to the degree of asymmetry in the adult organs. Nearly symmetrical, paired ovaries were found in three species and varying amounts of reduction of the right ovary in all others. The disappearance of the right oviduct in the ontogeny of the female red‐tailed hawk and the occurrence of accessory gonad tissue in male embryos of the same species are described and figured. The extent of reduction of the right ovary of eleven species is described, figured and classified. The following species are listed in the above order of classification: Circus hudsonius, Accipiter cooperi, Accipiter velox velox, Accipiter atricapillus atricapillus, Falco sparverius sparverius, Aquila chrysaëtos canadensis, Buteo borealis borealis, Buteo lineatus lineatus, Buteo lagopus sancti‐johannis, Cathartes aura septentrionalis, Buteo platypterus platypterus. It is concluded that two ways by which organs may disappear are realized in the right ovary and oviduct of the hawks. (1) by failure of an embryonic inductor in the case of the ovary, and (2) in the right oviduct by secondary atrophy of an originally well‐developed embryonic structure.