ti >
.Ex. Orn
P l a t e LXXXVIII.
ASTURINA RUFICAUDA.
(EED-TAllED BÏÏZZMD-HAiyK).
A stu rin a magnirostris
A stu rin a ruficauda
Sclater, P.Z.S . 1856, p . 285, 1859, p. 368, 1864, p. 178.
Scl. efc Salv, Ib is, 1859, p. 217.
Lawr. An n , L. N . Y. vii. p. 316, viii. p. 178,
Moore. P.Z.S, 1859, p. 52.
Scl. e t Salv. P.Z.S . 1869, p . 133,
S u p ra obscure c in erea ; remigibus p rima riis ad b a sin fem ig in e is, n ig ro tran s fa sciatis , in tu s in pogonio in te rio re
cinnamomeis, ad apices nig ric an tib u s : su b tù s g u lâ e t p e ctore obscure c iñereis : v e n tre to to cum tib iis ferru g in eo e t
pallido fulvo fre q u en ter tran s fa sc ia tis ; crisso cinnamomeo: c audâ nigrâ, ferru g in eo la to tr iv it ta tâ efc te rm in ata :
te ctric ib u s su b a larib u s cinnamomeis : ro stro nigro, cera flavà ; p edibus flavis, u n g u ib u s n igris : long, to ta 14'0, alæ 8'5,
caudæ 6-0, ta rs i 2-5. Junior. S u p rà fusca ; g u ttu re fusco fiammulato, v e n tris maculis s a g itta tis fuscis.
S a h . in America c en trali a Mexico merid. usque ad istbm um Panamensem.
As we have already sho-wii in oui* paper before refen-ed to, the northern representative of
the present group o f Asturince appears in its adult dress to be readily distinguishable from tbe
southern forms, and to require specific separation. From A . magnirostiis and A . nattereri it
differs in the deep red tail-bands, the corresponding colour in the two last-mentioned species
bemg pale cinereous. In younger specimens o f A . rufieaitda these bands are likewise cinereous,
but in nearly ev c iy case show traces o f rufescent coloming beginning to appear. In the
general colour o f its under plumage A . ruficauda more nearly resembles A . nattereri than
A . magnirostris, having the belly, flanks, and thighs o f the same rich ferruginous tinge which
distinguishes A . nattereri; but iu the present bird the throat and chest are usually o f a pale
cinereous, thus more resembling A . magnirostris.
We have seen a great number o f specimens o f this species from various parts o f Southern
Mexico and Central America. In Guatemala, where it is one of the commonest species o f
Hawk, Salvin obtained examples from the plains o f Zacapa, the Pacific coast-region, the valley
o f the River Polochic, Choctum in the forest-region of Vera Paz, and the savanas o f the district
o f Peten.
Asturina ruficauda, though thus widely distributed, is not found in tbe elevated moimtain
districts, but frequents the lowland plains up to an elevation o f about 2500 feet above the
sea-level. Its food in Guatemala consists almost entirely o f small snakes and lizards ; in one
specimen, collected at Chimalapa, on the plain o f Zacapa, the stomach is noted as having
contained “ centipedes.”
Southwards o f Guatemala this Buzzard-hawk is generally distributed over the Central