FALCO AURANTIUS.
GOLDEN S PAM OW-H AWK .
PALCO AURANTIUS. Gmel. Syst. Nat. Vol. I., p. 283; (1788).
FALCO THORACICUS. Donovan. Nat. Rep. Vol. II., p. (1824).
FALCO DEIROLEUCDS. Tbmm. Plan. Col. pi. 348.
FALCO AURANTIUS. Cass. Pac. R. R. Rep., Vol. IX., p. 10.
I t is doubtful if this handsomely plumaged Hawk may properly be included among the Birds op North America, as no individual
has been captured within the limits usually understood as bounding that division of the New World. A single specimen was obtained
by the then L ieut. Couch, in the State of New Leon, Mexico, on the Rio Grande; and supposing it likely to extend its migrations
into the State of Texas, I have deemed it perhaps best to allot the species a place in this work.
It is a well-known bird of South America, and is common, I believe, in many parts of that continent. I am unable to give
any account of its habits, never having seen it alive.
The life-like representation of this handsome Hawk, taken from a very fine specimen kindly loaned to me for the purpose by
Mr G N Lawrence, is the result of Mr. Wolf’s skillful pencil. Entire upper parts bluish slate color, the feathers having the centres
much darker. Under parts black, with narrow transverse bands of white. Cheeks black. Throat and breast yellowish white.
Abdomen, under tail coverts, and thighs, dark rufous. Under wing coverts black, with circular w hite spots. Primaries black, with
white transverse bands on their inner webs. Tail black, crossed with irregular bars of white, and with narrow white tips. Bill
horn-color, black at tip. Feet yellow.
The figures are the size o f life.