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BUTEO ZONOCERCUS.
BAND-TAI L HAWK.
BUTEO ZONOCEROUS. Solat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1858,) p. 263.
BUTEO HARLANI. Cass. B. of N . A., p. 24.—Id. Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc., VoL V., p. 220.
This handsome species was described by Dr. Sclatbr, in the proceedings o f the Zoological Society o f London as above referred to, from a
spcci nen received by him from Mexico. Dr. T. C. H enry also procured a specimen in New Mexico, which is now in the collection of the
Academy at Philadelphia, and Dr. Gooes obtained an example during his residence at Fort Whipple in Arizona; while Dr. Cooper secured another
individual in Santa Clara County, California. Thus it would appear that, although it may properly be considered a Mexican species, yet it penetrates
within our boundaries at various points.
Although so conspicuous and well marked as is this bird, yet we know nothing of its economy or habits, the opportunities afforded to observe
it in life not having been sufficiently frequent to enable those Ornithologists who met with it, to ascertain its breeding-places or mode of procuring
food.
From an examination of Mr. L awrence’s specimens mentioned by him in the Annals o f the Lyceum, quoted above, it would appear to be an
immature b ird of this species, and not Harlani, as there named; and the specimens in the Philadelphia Academy described by Mr. Cassin in the
Birds o f North'America, may with propriety also be referred to this species.
The spirited drawing which adorns my work is from the pencil of Mr. Wolf, to whom the type specimen contained in the Museum
of Norwich, England, was, at the request o f Dr. Sclater, sent for the purpose of being drawn for this work; and I take this opportunity o f expressing
m y thanks to the gentlemen in whose care the magnificent collection of the Museum is placed, for their courtesy in thus enabling me to
give a representation of this bird.
With regard to the admirable manner in which Mr. Wolf, so justly esteemed as unrivalled for his power o f delineating animal life, has performed
his part, I need say nothing—the figure will speak for itself. Dr. Solater’s description o f the species is as follows: "In plumage this bird
is very much like the typical Urubitingas, being of a nearly uniform ashy black, tinged with brown on the scapularies and secondaries, and with
a broad white band across the tail. Above this are two other bands much narrower, and not quite complete, and the tail is likewise tipped with
white. The color of these bands is pure white on the under surface, on the upper surface it is cinereous on the outer webs of the lateral rectrices,
and on both webs of the medial pair, but pure white on the inner webs of the lateral tail-feathers. The lowest band is about 1* inches in
breadth, the second not half an inch, and the highest is quite narrow. There are distinct traces of white cross bands on the inner webs of the
wing-feathers. The wings are, however, much more elongated than in the Urubitingas, the third primary (which is longest) extending four in-
hes beyond the secondaries. The fourth and fifth primaries are only slightly shorter than the third, the first being nearly of the same length
as the longest secondary.”
The figure is o f the size of life.