ACCIPITER CHI0N0GA8TEU,
araiTE-CHESTED SPAEEOW-MWK).
NÚUS chionogaeter
Acc ip iter erythrocnemis
Kau p . P-Z.S. 1851, p. 41.
Scl. e t Salv. Ib is, 1859, p. 218.
Salvin, Ib is, 18G1, p. 140.
Sclater, P.Z.S. 1866, p. Ö4, (p artim .)
S u p ra fumido-niger ; su b tu s albus, gul® e t p e c to ris plum a rum racliidibus angustissimè n ig ris : tib iis pallide rufesc
en tib u s : c auda fusco-nigrà, fasciis q u a tu o r tran sv ersis su p ra grisescenti-fuscis su b tu s albidis, margine quoque apicali
a lb o : alarum remigibus su b tu s albo n ig ro q u e tran sv ittiitis ; su b a larib u s pe cto re coueoloribus : ro stro nigro, p edibus
flavis, u n g u ib u s nigris. Fcern. ma ri simiiis, sed m ajor : long, to ta 14'0, aire 8 0, caud® 6 '5 , ta rs i 2 2, dig. raedii cum
u n g u e 2'0.
Ra b . iu Gu atemala.
This SpaiTow-hawk was first described by Dr. Kaup, fi-om specimens in the Derby Museum,
procured by Delattre in the vicinity o f Coban, Vera Paz. Mr. Salvin, during his various
excursions in Guatemala, met with it not unfrequently in the same country, having obtained
examples near Lanquin, Choctum, and San Geronimo, all in the Province o f Vera Paz. A
single specimen was likewise obtained in the Pacific Coast-rcgion below Dueflas, which shows
that the bird is pretty generally distributed over the whole o f Guatemala. Nothing special was
noted as to its habits, which quite resemble those o f our well-knowm A. rdsus.
As will bo seen by our list o f synonyms, we have hitherto always refen-ed this bird to
the Brazilian Accipiter erytkrocnemis, o f which it is doubtless the northern representative. But
a recent comparison o f Mr. Salvin’s series of specimens with the ty-pical examples o f the Brazilian
species ill the Britisli Museum, has convinced us that there are good grounds for separating the
two fonns. In Accipiter eryilirocnemis the tibim are deep rafous—almost chestnut, as its name
imports—the lower surface over the chest and flanks is transversely haned, and, though these
markings become somewhat obsolete in the adult, they never appear to vanish entirely. In the
present species, so far as we arc acquainted with it, tliere are no signs o f ti-ausverse mavlcings
below in any stage. A skin o f this bird in Ur. Salvia’s collection, which presents indications
o f immaturity in having narrow light margins to the wing-coverts, precisely resembles the adult
in its lower plumage.
Our figure is taken from the female specimen shot at Lanquin, as mentioned by Mr. Salvin
in “ The Ibis.” In an early number o f the present work, wc propose to give a figure o f the true
A . erythrocnemis, and to point out the differences between the two species more in detail.
J asuary, 1867.
I