hst o f synonyms, appears to be I k o h r o f Vieillot. In tlie Museum o f Paris, where Vieillot
states that the type o f his S p a n iu s himlor is to he found, is an immature female speoimen of
the present bird, in tho same dress as is figured on onr plate, marked as the original o f that
author’s description, with which it likewise well agrees. In his laborious studies o f the types in
this Mnseum^ Dr. Pncheran has already shewn* that this specimen is the same as the larger of
the two individuals (belonging to different species), upon which Cuvier bestowed the name
Nisus varialus, and it appears to be that also which Lesson, in 1831, described under Cuvier’s
name. We may add that the smaller type o f Cuvier’s N. variatus seems to ns to he a young
male o f the true Accipiter pileatus o f Brazil.
Two other names appear to have been subsequently based upon tbe young dress of
the present species—Acapfier sexfaciatus by Swainson and Micrastur dynastes by Verreaux.
Typical specimens o f both these supposed species are in the British Museum, where we have
had the advantage o f consulting them. In its adult stage this Sparrowhawk seems never yet
to have been distinguished from the true A. pileatus.
The range o f this northern species appears to be much more extensive than that o f its
southern congener, as will be seen by the list o f localities above given. In Guatemala Salvin
found It sparmgly distributed throughout the forests o f the lowland districts, and obtained,
specimens o f it in various states o f plumage. It was generally observed in the vicinity of
villages situated in the outskirts o f the forest, and was well known to the inhabitants as an
audacious depredator o f their hen roosts. It keeps, however, exclusively to the lower forests,
while m the highland portions o f Guatemala its northern congener Accipiter eooperi appears
to take its place.
Our figui-es o f this species represent Guatemalan skins in the collection o f Messrs.
Salvin and Godman at two-thirds o f their natural dimensions. The adult bird is a male, shot
at Savana Grande on the southeni slope o f the Volcan de Fuego, in 1S62. Tho young one is
a female from Choctum in Vera Paz obtained in January, 1861.
* Eev. Zool. 1850, p . 6.
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