GENUS MÏCRATHENE.
Micrathene. Cottes. P. A. N. S. (1866.) p . 51.
40. MÏCRATHENE WHITNEYI. Vol. I. Plate XXIX.
FAMI L Y I lg pFA L CONIDÆ.
SUB-FAMILY FALCONINÆ.
GENUS PALCO.
Falco. Linn. Syst. Nat. Vol. I. (1766.) p . 124.
FALCO OANDICANS. • . . I Vol H. Plato XXX.
| M ISLANDICUS. Vbl.:n. Plate XXXI.
: , AURANTIUS. . * . Vol. H. Plate XXXII.
SUB-FAMILY ACCIPITRULE.
GENUS ACCIPITER.
Accipiier. Briss. Omith. (.1760). Vol. I. p . 310.
44. ACCIPITER MEXICANUS=A. COOPERI.
Accifiter Mexicanus. Swain’s Faun. Bor. Am. p. 45.
Mr. Cassin has designated the three members which constitute this genus in North America, as “A group in which size is a specific
character.” As nothing is so liable to mislead an ornithologist in his investigation o f species, as the variation in measurement of bis
it seems most unwise to establish a species whose only qualification is size. Particularly does this objection appeal with force,
when it is applied to the great family of hawks, whose members are notorious for variations in size. I have examined carefully specimens
of acknowledged A. Mexicanus, and compared them with those o f A. Cooperi, and they appear evidently to belong to one and the same
species.
It is impossible to define characters which would enable the two birds to be distinguished from each other.
SUB-FAMILY BUTEONINÆ.
GENUS BUTEO.
Buteo. . Ouv. Anatom. Comparée. ( 1799).
45. BUTEO MONTANUS=B. BOREALIS.
Buteo Montasus. Nutt. Man. Ornith. Vol. I . (1840). p . 112.
This is the western representative o f B. Borealis, or is generally so considered, and it might be deemed a local race if a distinct
range of locality could be assigned to it. The finest specimen I ever saw, was killed at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and is now, or was when
I saw it, in the collection ot the Smithsonian Institution, proving that this form is not exclusively western. The specimens from the west
of the Rocky Mountains appear to be slightly larger than are those from the eastern part of the continent, but examples constantly occur
there which cannot be recognized from the common species o f the Atlantic States. The variations among individuals belonging to Buteo
Borealis both in color of plumage and measurement of their parts, are so great and extensive, that to admit the stylo called B. Montanus
to specific rank, would of necessity entail the acknowledgment of many more forms to the same privilege, as is very conclusively proved
by Dr. Bryant in his able paper upon " The variations in Plumage o f B. Borealis and B. Harlani,” published in the Proceedings of the
Boston Natural History Society, (1861) p. 107. And as these different forms appear not to be restricted to any particular section of
country, for many a western “ Red-tail” is identical with eastern examples, nor to vary in any way that is peculiar to themselves as a
class, it would seem the far more reasonable conclusion to consider them as all members of one species, until further information could
prove , that such decision was incorrect.
46. BUTEO ZONOCERCUS. Vol. II. Plate XXXIII.
• S U B -F AM IL Y A Q U IL INÆ .
GENUS HALIÆTUS.
Halicetus. Savig. Descrip, de I Egypt. Zool. p . 85,
47. HALIÆTUS PELAGICUS. Vol. II. Plato XXXIV.
48. — ALBICILLA. Vol. II. Plate XXXV.
At the time the article on this species was published I believed that an example had been obtained upon this continent, but having»
been unable to verify this, Greenland being the nearest locality where it has been procured, I regret to state that as yet North America
has no claim to this , noble bird.
FAMILY III— VULTURIDÆ.
SUB-FAMILY CATHARTINÆ.
GENUS CATHARTES.
Gaihartes. I/tig. Prodr. p. 236. (1811.)
49. CATHARTES BURROVIANUS. Vol. II. Plato XXVI.
PpT L L A g T E Æ.
.FAMILY I.-jSoLUMBIDÆ.
SUB-FAMILY ZENAIDINÆ.
GENUS SCARDAFELLA
Seardafella. Bon. Consp. Av’i • Vol. II. (1854.) p . 85
50. SCARDAFELLA INCA. Vol. II. Plate XXXVII.
G A L L I NÆ.
F AM I L Y I—THASIANIDÆ.
SUB-FAMILY MELEAGRINÆ:
GENUS MELEAGRIS.
Meleagris. Lim. Syst. Nat. (1735.)
51. MELEAGRIS MEXICANA. • Vol. H. Plate XXXVIII..
G B A L L Æ .
F AMI L Y I - CHAEADRI IDÆ.
SUB-FAMILY CHARADRHNÆ.
GENUS PODASOCYS. .
Coues. P. A. N. S. 11866.1 ». 96.