r.
This Hawk has an extensive range in Central America, reaching from tlic northern frontiers of
Mexico down to Costa Rica. In consequence o f its having been obtained by Lieut. D. N. Couch
in the Mexican province o f New Leon in 1853 Prof. Baird has included it in liis worli on the
birds o f North America, but n-e have not y et heard whether it has since been found north o f the
frontier-line.
In Southern Mexico it would appear to be common, having been included in most o f the
collections made by M. Sallé and his correspondents iu Vera Cruz and the adjoining States,
as we ll as in Mr. White’s series from the vicinity o f the city o f Mexico. In Guatemala Salvin
found this Hawk likewise ahimdant in the lowlands and up to an elevation of about 3000 feet.
Here it is generally seen singly, watching for its prey amongst the trees that are scattered over
the more open districts, or in the outskirts o f the forest clearings. Its food is principally Lizards
o f various sorts (such as Tropidolepis torquatus, Cnemidophoriis undulatus, and various species
o f Anolis), which abound in such localities. Slany skins o f this bird were obtained both in
Vera Paz and in the Pacific coast-region. In the former district, near San Geronimo,
Mr. Robert Owen found it breeding, in April, 18G0, as recorded in “ The Ibis.” Mr. Owen
tells us that its nest is placed in tho high trees which are scattered over the plains, and not
unfrequently within a few yards o f the Indian ranchos.
The number o f eggs in one nest is two. They are white, without any markings, hut have
the inner coating o f a sea-green, as in Astur palumbarius.
Our authority for the occurrence o f this species in Costa Rica rests upon a single specimen
shot by Arcé at La Barranca on the Pacific slope in March 186-4. This bird is in immature
plumage, but pi-esents traces o f the adult dress on various parts o f the back, so that there can
be no doubt o f its belonging to the present species, and not to the true A . nitida, which, though
common on the Panama E<ailway-liue, does not appear to range further north.
Oui- figure o f the adult o f this bird (two-thirds o f tlie natural size) is from a Guatemalan
skin obtained by Messrs. Salvin and Godman, in December, 1861, on the southern slopes o f the
Volcan dc Fuego. That of the immature bird iu the back-ground, is ffom the typical specimen of
A . plagióla in the Berlin Museum, which Dr. Peters has most kindly lent to us for this pui-pose.
The subjoined table may, perhaps, assist in distinguishing the seven species o f the genus
Asiurina, in their adult d ress:—
A. S u p rà c in ereæ a u t fuscæ : su b tù s p lu s miuusye trau s fa seiatæ—
a. p rim, p o g o n iis in te rn is albis n ig ro tran s fa sciatis :
su p ra tran s fa seiata
su p ra un ico lo r . . . .
i . p rim, pogon. in t. rufis n ig ro tran s fa sciatis :
a', caudæ fasciis ciñereis ;
tib iis albis, cinereo transfasciatis
tib iis fulvis, rufo transfasciatis
I', caudæ fasciis rufis ;
gu lâ e t pe cto re ciñereis
g u lâ obscure fusca, pect. fulvesccute
B. S u p rà e t su b tù s unicolor u ig e r . . . .
1, n itida.
2. plagiata.
3. magnirostris.
i . nattereri.
5. ruficauda.
6. pucherani.
7. leucorrhoa.