Footnotes

[1] The whole of the systematic portion of the article on the Raptores, has been prepared by Mr. Ridgway; the biographies, however, are furnished by Dr. Brewer, as usual. The outlines of the skulls and sterna of the Strigidæ, the skulls, sterna, and heads of the Cathartidæ, and the generic outlines of the Falconidæ and Cathartidæ, were drawn by Mr. Ridgway.—S. F. Baird.

[2] By Thomas H. Huxley, F. R. S., V. P. Z. S.; Proceedings of the Zoölogical Society of London, 1867, pp. 415–473.

[3] By Charles Ludwig Nitzsch. English edition, translated from the German by Dr. Philip Lutley Sclater, and published by the Ray Society of London, 1867.

[4] By William McGillivray, A. M.; London, 1840.

[5] See Jardine’s Contributions to Ornithology, London, 1849, p. 68; 1850, p. 51; 1851, p. 119; 1852, p. 103; and Transactions of the Zoölogical Society of London, 1862, p. 201.

[6] Hand List of Genera and Species of Birds, distinguishing those contained in the British Museum. By George Robert Gray, F. R. S., etc. Part I. Accipitres, Fisserostres, Tenuirostres, and Dentirostres. London, 1869.

[7] I have, however, examined the sterna only of Nyctea, Bubo, Otus, Brachyotus, Syrnium, Nyctale, and Glaucidium.

[8] My unpublished determinations of the North American species were furnished, by request, to Dr. Coues, for introduction into his “Key of North American Birds”; consequently the names used in these pages are essentially the same as those there employed.

[9] This case of the restriction of the American representative of a European or Western Palæarctic species to the western half of the continent has parallel instances among other birds. The American form of Falcolanarius (var. polyagrus), of Corvus corax (var. carnivorus), Pica caudata (var. hudsonica and var. nuttalli) and of Ægialitis cantianus (var. nivosus), are either entirely restricted to the western portion, or else are much more abundant there than in the east. The European genera Cinclus, Coccothraustes, Nucifraga, and Columba have representatives only in the western portion of North America.

Instances of a similar relation between the plants of the Western Province of North America and those of Europe, and more striking likeness between the flora of the Eastern Region and that of Eastern Asia, are beautifully explained in Professor Gray’s interesting and instructive paper entitled “Sequoia, and its History,” an address delivered at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at Dubuque, Iowa, August, 1872. The poverty in the species of tortoises, and richness in lizards, and the peculiarities of the ichthyological fauna, as well as absence of forms of Western North America and Europe, compared with Eastern North America and Eastern Asia, afford other examples of parallelism in other classes of the Animal Kingdom.

[10] See Baird, Am. Journ. Arts and Sciences, Vol. XLI, Jan. and March, 1866; Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl. Cambridge, Vol. II, No. 3; and Ridgway, Am. Journ. Arts and Sciences, Vols.

IV and V, Dec., 1872, and Jan., 1873.

[11] For diagnoses of these geographical races of Strix flammea, see pp. 1339 and 1340.

[12] See Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., Cambridge, Vol. II, No. 3, pp. 338, 339, where these plumages are discussed at length.

[13] Strix flammea, var. flammea. Strix flammea, Linn. S. N. I, 133, 1766, et Auct.-Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 178. Strix alba, Scop. Ann. 1st, p. 21, 1768.—Gmel. S. N. 293.—Lath.—Daud.—Lep. and Shaw. Strix guttata, Brehm, Vög. Deutschl. p. 106, 1831. Hab. Europe and Africa.

[14] Strix flammea, var. guatemalæ, Ridgway. Central American specimens differ very appreciably from Mexican and North American examples, in being considerably darker-colored in the extreme phases of plumage. Eight of eleven specimens convey an impression of decided difference in this respect at a mere casual glance. The extremes of plumage in this series are as follows:—Darkest (No. 40,961, Chimandega, Nicaragua; F. Hicks): The dusky mottling of the upper parts is altogether darker than in any example from Mexico or northward, and prevails, with great uniformity, over the entire surface; the white specks are linear, instead of roundish. On the primaries and tail, the blackish and ochraceous are about equal in extent, the latter color forming five bands on the quills, and four on the tail. The facial circle is bright dark orange above the ears, and the portion below the ears continuous black; the face is reddish-white, strongly tinged with wine-brown, while the spot in front of the eye is deep black. The whole lower parts are deep orange-ochraceous, with numerous irregular specks of dusky, which posteriorly become broken or confused into ragged zigzag transverse mottlings, while on the lower tail-coverts they form irregular transverse bars. Wing-formula, 2, 1–3. Wing, 13.00; tail, 5.90; culmen, .85; tarsus, 2.90; middle toe, 1.50. Lightest (No. 41,252, ♂, San José, Costa Rica, Aug. 23, 1865; José C. Zeledon): The dark tint above, though prevalent, is a continuous wash of grayish, instead of a fine mottling of blackish and white; the white specks are nearly obsolete. The wings are superficially plain grayish, this overlaying the ground-color of ochraceous-orange; and have visible spots only on the primaries, near their shafts. The tail has four rather distinct grayish bands. The facial circle is ochraceous, somewhat darker across the foreneck; the face white, with the ante-orbital spot claret-brown. Entire lower parts immaculate pure white. Wing-formula, 2, 1=3. Wing, 12.30; tail, 5.30; culmen, .70; tarsus, 2.75; middle toe, 1.45.

No. 24,283, Nicaragua, (Captain J. M. Dow,) is like the specimen just described, in the uniform dark wash of the upper parts, but this is deeper; the lower parts, however, are quite different, being ochraceous-orange, instead of pure white.

The remaining five specimens (from San Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua) are alike, and differ from northern birds in the deeper dark mottling of the upper parts; the white specks very conspicuous, and usually sagittate. The facial circle deep black where it crosses the foreneck. The lower parts vary in color from nearly pure white to deep orange-rufous; the dark markings of the lower surface are larger, more angular, and more transverse than in true pratincola. The wing measures 11.30–13.00; tarsus, 2.55–2.95. The northern form varies from 12.50–13.00 (wing) and 2.50–2.85 (tarsus). It is thus seen that while these southern birds average smaller in general dimensions, they have actually larger feet, the average length of the tarsus being 2.80 in the Central American series, and only 2.60 in the northern series. This exactly coincides with the case of Sturnella, the S. magna var. mexicana of the same region being smaller bodied and shorter winged than var. magna of the United States, but with much larger feet, see p.

[15] Strix flammea, var. perlata. Strix perlata, Licht. Verz. Doubl. 59, 1823.—Tschudi, Av. Consp. Wiegm. Archiv. 267, 1844.—Hartt. Syst. Ind. Azara. p. 3.—Max. Beitr. III, 263 (excl. syn.).—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 180 (excl. syn.). Strix flammea, Darwin, Zool. Beag. 34.—Schomb. Verz. Faun. Brit. Guian. p. 732.—Spix, Av. Bras. I, 21.

This is a still further differentiated or more appreciably modified race. It differs in smaller size (wing, 11.70–12.50; tail, 4.80–5.20; tarsus, 2.40–2.75) and more square tail, while the colors also present constant differences. The tail is much lighter compared with the wings, the bands narrower and more sharply defined, though the same in number.

[16] Strix flammea, var. furcata. Strix furcata, Temm. Pl. Col. 432, 1838.—D’Orb. Hist. Nat. Cuba Ois. p. 34. Hab. West Indies (Cuba and Jamaica).

This form is the most distinctly characterized of all the races of S. flammea which we have examined. It has the general plumage decidedly lighter and less rufous, while the secondaries and tail are abruptly lighter than the adjacent parts, and usually free from bands, though there are sometimes traces of them.

All the American races of Strix flammea differ very decidedly from the European form (var. flammea) in much larger size. The differences in color are not so appreciable, and there is hardly any certain difference in this respect. The extreme phases, however, appear to be darker in the var. flammea than in the var. pratincola. The supposed differences in the character of the feathers fringing the operculum, insisted on by MacGillivray (History of British Birds, III, 1840, p. 473), I am unable to appreciate, for I cannot find that they differ in the least in the two races. That excellent ornithologist states that in the American “species” the feathers of the operculum are reduced to a simple tube, having neither filaments nor shaft, while in the European bird they are perfect feathers, with all their parts complete. Though this may have been the case with the one or more specimens of pratincola examined by Mr. MacGillivray, I have yet to see an American specimen which has not the feathers of the operculum just as perfectly developed as in European examples.

[17] Strix flammea, var. delicatula. Strix delicatula, Gould, P. Z. S. 1836, 140.—Ib. B. Australia, I, pl. xxxi.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. 1855, 180. Hab. Australia.

[18] Strix flammea, var. javanica. Strix javanica, Gmel. S. N. I, 295, 1789.—Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 64, and Gen. Hist. I, 357.—Horsf. L. Trans. XIII, 139.—Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 5, pl. xv.—Sykes, P. Comm. Zoöl. Soc. pl. ii, 81.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 180. Phodilus javanicus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XIX, 513. Strix flammea, Pears. & Blyth. Hab. Java and Southern India, and Eastern Africa.

[19] Otus vulgaris. Strix otus, Linn. S. N. p. 132, 1766.—Asio otus, Less. Strickl.—Bubo otus, Savign. Ulula otus, Macgill. Otus vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 56, 1828, et Auct. O. europæus, Steph. 1. O. albicollis, Daud. O. italicus, Daud. O. communis, Less. O. aurita, Mont. O. asio, Leach. O. sylvestris, O. arboreus, and O. gracilis, Brehm.

[20] Otus stygius. Nyctalops stygius, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1221.—Gray, Gen. B. p. 6, ed. 2, p. 8.—Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 50. Otus stygius, Puch. Rev. Zoöl. 1849, 29.—Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 12.—Kaup, Monog. Strig. Cont. Orn. 1852, p. 113. Asio styg. ? Otus siguapa, D’Orb. Hist. Nat. Cuba Ois. p. 31, Tab. 2, 1840.—Gray, Gen. fol. sp. 9.—Bonap. Consp. 50 (Cuba). Otus communis, var., Less. Tr. Orn. p. 110. Hab. South America (Brazil, ? Cuba, St. Paulo, Kaup).

[21] Syrnium nebulosum, var. sartorii, Ridgway (Mexican Barred Owl). Hab. Mirador, Mexico. Char. Adult (♀, 43,131, Mirador, near Vera Cruz, Mexico, “pine region”; Dr. C. Sartorius). In general appearance like nebulosum, but the brown very much darker, and less reddish,—that of the markings below very nearly black; the pattern, however, precisely the same, and there is about the same proportion between the light and the dark bars as is seen in the average of nebulosum. The face is plain dirty white without the brown bars or semicircles,—a constant and conspicuous feature in nebulosum. There is the same number of spots on the primaries, and of bands on the tail, as in nebulosum. The white beneath is without any ochraceous tinge; the primary coverts are plain dark brown. Wing-formula: 4–3=5; 1 intermediate between 8 and 9. Wing, 14.80; tail, 9.00; culmen, 1.05; tarsus, 2.20; middle toe, 1.60. This race of the S. nebulosum presents very appreciable differences from the bird of the United States. As stated above, the brown is much darker and less reddish, while the face is wholly destitute of the concentric dusky rings seen in nebulosum proper. To Dr. Charles Sartorius, who, by the presentation to the Smithsonian Institution of numerous elegantly prepared specimens, has added so much to our knowledge of the birds of the vicinity of Mirador, I take great pleasure in dedicating this new form.

[22] Syrnium nebulosum, var. fulvescens. Syrnium fulvescens, Salvin, P. Z. S. 1868, 58. Char. General appearance of var. nebulosum, but smaller and much more ochraceous. Ground-color of the plumage ochraceous, inclining to a deep fulvous tint on the upper parts, but paler below. Feathers of the upper surface tipped with dark umber-brown, and sometimes with an additional bar about the middle of the feather. The fulvous bars much exposed, so as to exceed the brown in amount. Face grayish-white, tinged outwardly with ochraceous. Beneath with the markings of nebulosum on a deep and uniform ochraceous ground. Wing, 12.75; tail, 8.50; culmen, .95; tarsus, 2.45; middle toe, 1.20 (Coll. Bost. Soc., No. 367, Guatemala; Van Patten).

[23] Nyctale tengmalmi, var. tengmalmi. Strix tengmalmi, Gmel. S. N. p. 291, 1789 (et Auct. var.). Nyctale t., Bonap. et Auct. Noctua t., Cuv. et Auct. Athene t., Boie. Ulula t., Bonap. et Auct. Scotophilus t., Swains. Strix dasypus, Bechst. (1791) et Auct. Nyctale d., Gray. Strix passerina, A. Meyer, 1794.—Pallas. Nyctale planiceps, Brehm, 1831. N. pinetorum, Brehm, 1831. N. abietum, Brehm, 1831. N. funerea, Bonap. 1842 (not of Linn., 1761, which is Surnia ulula). “N. kirtlandi,” Elliot, Ibis, II, Jan., 1872, p. 48 (not of Hoy!).

[24] Nyctale harrisi, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. IV, p. 157, Feb., 1849.—Ib. Tr. A. N. S. II, 2d series, Nov., 1850, pl. v.

[25] Scops asio, var. enano, Lawrence, MSS. This well-marked race is founded upon two specimens,—one from Mexico, in the cabinet of Mr. Lawrence, and another from Guatemala, in the collection of the Boston Society of Natural History. They are exactly similar in colors; but, as might be expected, the more southern specimen is the smaller of the two. This form very closely resembles the S. atricapilla (Natt.) Steph. (Temm. Pl. Col. 145), but may be readily distinguished by the haired toes, they being perfectly naked in atricapilla. The latter species is found as far northward as Mirador.

[26] Scops semitorques, Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, t. 8. For the privilege of comparing specimens of this bird with S. kennicotti, I am indebted to the courtesy of the officers of the New York Museum, who kindly sent the fine specimens of that museum for examination.

[27] Bubo virginianus, var. magellanicus. Strix (δ) bubo magellanicus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1789, p. 286.—Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 210.—Less. Voy. Coq. I, 617; Isis, 1833, 76. Asio mag. Less. Man. Orn. I. p. 116, 1828. Bubo mag. Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. 1844, p. 46. Strix nacuruta, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. VII, 44, 1816; Enc. Méth. III, 1281, 1823. Strix crassirostris, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. VII, 44 (1817); Enc. Méth. III, 1280. Otus crass. Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 6 (1844); List Birds Brit. Mus. p. 106. Bubo crass. Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 48 (1850).—Kaup, Monog. Strig. Cont. Orn. 1852, 116 (under B. virginianus). Asio crass. Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 208, 1855. Strix macrorhyncha, Temm. Pl. Col. 62, 1820. Otus ? macr. Steph. Zoöl. XIII, pt. ii, p. 59. Otus macr. Cuv. Règ. An. (ed. 2), I, 341.—Less. Tr. Orn. p. 109. Asio macr. Less. Man. Orn. I, 117.

[28] Bubo mexicanus (Gmel.) Ridgw. Asio mexicanus, Briss. Orn. I, 498, 1760.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 208, 1855 (excl. syn.). Strix mexicana, Gmel. S. N. p. 288, 1789.—Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 54; Syn. I, 123; Gen. Hist. I, 314, A.—Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 214.—Shaw, Zoöl. VII, 228.—Otus mexicanus, Steph. Zoöl. XIII, pt. ii, p. 57.—Bubo clamator, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. pl. xx, 1807. Scops cl. Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. 1844, p. 45. Strix clamata, Vieill. Enc. Méth. III, 1279, 1823. Strix longirostris, Spix, Av. Bras. pl. 9 a, 1824. Strix maculata, Max. Beitr. III, 281, 1830. Hab. Middle and South America generally. A very distinct species, and a typical Bubo, although usually referred to the genus Otus.

[29] Nyctea scandiaca, var. nivea (see p. 000). Strix scandiaca, Linn. S. N. (12th ed.) I, 132 (1766). Nyctea scandiaca, Yawell, Hist. Brit. B. 1872, 187. Strix nyctea, Linn. S. N. I, 1766, 132. Strix nivea, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 1800. Nyctea nivea, Gray, Gen. fol. sp. 1, pl. xii, f. 2.

[30] No. 559, collection of R. Ridgway (♂, Mt. Carmel, Wabash County, Southern Illinois, October 14, 1869). 22½–54. Weight, 3½ lbs.; bill black; iris gamboge-yellow; toes ashy; claws horn-color, black at ends.

[31] Surnia ulula, var. ulula. Strix ulula, Linn. S. N. I, 1766, 133. Surnia ulula, Bonap. Cat. 1838, 22.

[32] Glaucidium passerinum, var. passerinum. Strix passerina, Linn. I, 133, 1766. Glaucidium passerinum, Boie, Isis, 1826, 976.—Sharpe & Dresser, Birds Europe, II, April, 1871. Surnia passerina, Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Europ. 32, 1840. Microptynx passerina, Kaup, Contr. Orn. 1852, 107. Noctua passerina, Schleg. Mus. Pays-Bas. Striges, p. 41, 1862. Strix pusilla, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 205, 1800. Strix pygmæa, Bechst. Nat. Deutschl. IV, 978, t. xxiv, 1805. Strix acadica, Temm. Man. d’Orn. I, p. 96, 1820 (nec Gmel.).

[33] Glaucidium infuscatum, var. infuscatum. Strix infuscata, Temm. Ind. Général, 1821. Athene i., Bonap. Consp. 37, 1850 (excl. syn.). Glaucidium i., Kaup, Cont. Orn. 1852, 103. ? Strix eluta, Illig. in Mus. Berl. Cab. Azar. No. 49. Strix passerinoides, Temm. Pl. Col. 344. Surnia p., Bonap. Os. Cuv. Règ. An. I, 57. Noctua p., Less. Man. & Tr. Orn.

[34] Glaucidium infuscatum, var. gnoma. Glaucidium gnoma, Wagl. Isis, 1832, 275.—Kaup, Monog. Strigidæ, in Contr. to Orn. 1852, 103 (under G. infuscatum).—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 163, 1855 (under G. infuscatum). Athene gnoma, Gray, Gen. Birds, fol. sp. 35, 1844. Hab. Whole of Middle America, from Panama northward to the Rio Grande and Mazatlan. Probably yet to be found in Texas or New Mexico.

[35] Gray, in his “Hand List,” gives in addition S. fusca, Vieill., a West Indian (“Antilles”) species, which proves to be not congeneric with S. cunicularia, and also S. domingensis (Gm.) Müll., which I cannot identify as one of the races of S. cunicularia.

[36] Speotyto cunicularia, var. grallaria? ? Strix grallaria, Spix, Av. Braz. I, 21, 1824.—? Tem. Pl. Col. 146. I am by no means satisfied that this form is the true grallaria, but it seems to come nearer to it than any other described. Three specimens (two from Peru, in the National Museum, and one, without label, in the Museum of the Boston Society of Natural History) have been examined, and agree in the characters diagnosed above.

[37] Speotyto cunicularia, var. cunicularia. Strix cunicularia, Molina, St. Chil. 1782, 343. Gmel. S. N. 292, sp. 28,—and of other authors referring to the South American bird.

[38] Speotyto cunicularia, var. guadeloupensis, Ridgway. This bird is merely a very dark local form of the common species, though it differs very appreciably in the sharper definition, greater extent, and more intense tint of the brown markings of its plumage.

I have been unable to find any description of this form, and believe it to be unnamed. It is certainly not the S. dominicensis, Gmel. (S. N. 296, S. domingensis, Müll. Gray’s Hand List, 43, No. 438), not S. fusca, Vieill. (Gray’s Hand List, No. 439). The type is in the collection of the Boston Society of Natural History, and belongs to the Lafresnaye collection (No. 787).

[39] We give, above, three well-marked illustrations of asymmetry: two relating to the auditory apparatus of the two sides of the head, and one of opposite sides of the skull.

[40] As in the case of the Strigidæ, my determinations of the North American species of Falconidæ were furnished, according to request, to Dr. Coues, for use in his “Key to North American Birds.” (R. R.)

[41] By this is meant that they are all of equal length and thickness, and not progressively smaller from the posterior one to the outer, as in all Falconidæ with the sole exception of Pandion, though there is a very near approach to this feature in one or two of the species of Haliætus.

[42] As in all the Strigidæ.

[43] Embracing besides the Falcones all the Polyborine genera, besides Herpetotheres and Micrastur.

[44] As in the Polyborine forms of the Falconinæ.

[45] Extremes of sixty specimens.

[46] Sometimes there are more or less distinct linear streaks on the head and neck, or on the pectoral region.

[47] Sometimes the irregular markings above have a transverse tendency.

[48] Falco gyrfalco, var. gyrfalco (Linn.). Falco gyrfalco, Linn. S. N. 1766, p. 130.—Gmel. S. N. 275.—Schleg. Rev. Crit. II, Tr. de Fauc. pl. iii; F. van Nederl. Vog. pls. iii and iv.—Naum. Vog. pl. cccxci. Hierofalco gyrfalco, Schleg. Bonap. Rev. Zool. 1854, 535.—Newton, Oötheca Wolleyana, I, 87, pl. c. F. gyrfalco norvegicus, Wolley. Falco gyrfalco norwegicus, Schleg. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862, 12. Falco candicans, var. γ, Blas.

Wing, 13.00–14.50; tail, 9.30; culmen, .98; tarsus, 2.50; middle toe, 1.92.

[49] Falco lanarius, var. lanarius (Schlegel). Falco lanarius, Schleg. Krit. Ueb. II, et 11.—Ib. Tr. Fauc. 6; Mus. Pays-Bas, Falcones 14; Abh. Zool. 16; Rev. 1844, 2; Naum. 1855, 252; Ibis, 1859, 86.—Bree, B. Eur. I, 1859, 37 (plate of adult!).—Tristram, Ibis, 284.—Gray, Hand List, I, 1869, 19, No. 171. Pelz. Ueb. der Geier und Falk. II, 1863, 20. Falco lanarius α, Schleg. Tr. Fauc. 23. Gennaia lanarius, Schleg.—Bonap. Rev. 1854, 535. Falco feldeggii, Schleg. Abh. Zool. 3–6.

[50] Falco lanarius, var. mexicanus (Licht.). Falco mexicanus, “Licht. Mus. Berol.”—Schleg. Abh. Zool. 1841, 15.—Schleg. Falcones, Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862, 18.—Pelz. Neb. der Geier und Falk. II, 1863, 19. “Falco sublanarius, Natterer.”—Pelz. Ueb. der Geier und Falk. II, 1863, 19.

[51] Falco lanarius, var. jugger (Gray). Falco jugger, Gray, Hardw. Ill. Ind. Zool. II, pl. xxvi, 1832.—Bonap. Consp. 24.—Gould, B. Asia, pl. i.—Jerdon, B. India, 30.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. 1855, 79, No. 129.—Schleg. Abh. pl. xv; Mus. Pays-Bas. I, 17. Falco lugger, Jerd. Aladr. Journ. X, p. 80; Ill. Ind. Orn. pl. xliv.—Blyth, Journ. Ass. Soc. Bengal, XI, 104. Falco thermophilus, Hodgs. Zool. Misc. 1844, 81. Falco lanarius? Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. XIX, 318.

[52] Extremes of more than one hundred specimens measured!

[53] Falco communis, var. orientalis (Gmelin). Falco orientalis, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 264.—Lath. Ind. Orn. 22.—Ib. Gen. Hist. I, 162.—Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 76.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 83. Two specimens examined, from Japan (Nat. Mus., 1; Philad. Acad., 1).

[54] Falco communis, var. communis (Gmelin). Falco communis, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 270.—Schleg. Krit. übers, p. 14.—Ib. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862, Falcones, 1.—Pelz. Ueb. der Geier und Falk. 1863, 23. Falco peregrinus, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 272.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 81, et Auct. Seventeen specimens of this race have been examined. They are distributed as follows: Nat. Mus., 5; Bost. Soc., 6; Philad. Acad., 4; Cambridge Mus., 2. Total, 17.

[55] Falco communis, var. melanogenys (Gould). Falco communis, Lath. New S. Wales Dr. II, No. 4. Falco peregrinus, Vig. Linn. Trans. XV, p. 183.—Ib. Isis, 1830, 260.—Bonap. Consp. 23, No. 2. Falco melanogenys, Gould, P. Z. S. pt. 5, 1837, 139.—Ib. Synop. B. Austr. pt. 3, pl. xl, fig. 2; Birds of Austr. I, pl. 8; Intr. B. Austr. 19.—Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 6.—Ib. List. B. Brit. Mus. 51.—Bonap. Rev. Zoöl. 1850, 484.—Kaup, Monog. Falc. in Jardine’s Contr. Orn. 1850, 56.—Sturt, Exp. Austr. App. 14.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 84.—Gray, Hand List, I, 1869, 19, No. 167. Falco macropus, Swains. An. Menag. 1838, 341. Eight specimens examined, including the types of Gould’s figures and descriptions in the Birds of Australia.

[56] Falco aurantius, Gmel. (Rufous-bellied Falcon). Falco aurantius, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 283, 1789.—Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 48, 1790, Gen. Hist. I, 289.—Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 130.—Shaw, Zoöl. VII, 194.—Steph. Zoöl. XIII, ii, 40.—Cuv. Reg. An. (ed. 2), I, 322.—Less. Tr. Orn. p. 91. Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 25.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 89, 1855. Hypotriorchis aurantius, Kaup, Ueb. Falk. Mus. Senck. p. 257, 1845. Bidens aurantius, Spix, Av. Bras. I, 17, 1824. Falco deiroleucus, Temm. Pl. Col. 348, 1836.—Less. Man. Orn. I, 79.—Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. 1844, p. 25; Gen. B. fol. sp. 12.—Bonap. Rev. Zool. 1850, 486. Falco rufigularis (not of Daudin!) Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. p. 54, 1844.

Sp. Char. Adult (♂, Costa Rica; Coll. G. N. Lawrence). Above bluish-plumbeous, the feathers darker centrally; anteriorly the black increases in extent, first leaving the plumbeous only as a border to the feathers, and then dropping it altogether, the head and nape being plain black; posteriorly the plumbeous predominates, and shows a tendency to form transverse bars. On the head and neck the black occupies the whole upper and lateral portions, reaching down to the throat, involving the whole of the cheeks and maxillæ, which it covers in an angular patch. Primaries and tail deep black; the former immaculate on their outer surface; the latter crossed by six (the last terminal) incomplete very narrow bands of pure white, formed by transverse bars, which touch neither the shaft nor edges of the feathers; upper tail-coverts crossed by about two bars of pure white. Immaculate area of the throat and jugulum deep rufous posteriorly and laterally, pure white anteriorly and centrally; from the jugulum to the tibiæ, and including the entire lining of the wing, continuous black, with transverse bars of white; tibiæ plain rufous; crissum mixed rufous and white,—the former predominating,—and thickly marked with large transverse spots of black; inner webs of primaries with transverse ovate spots of white, touching neither shaft nor edge of the feather; these number seven on the longest quill (second). Wing-formula, 2–1, 3–4. Wing, 9.90; tail, 5.50; tarsus, 1.55; middle toe, 1.75.

Juv. (♂, 51,293, Costa Rica, La Palma, August 25, 1867; José C. Zeledon). Whole upper surface black, deepest on the tail; it occupies the whole head (except the chin, throat, and sides of the neck), the black cheek-patch having considerable prominence; feathers everywhere (except on the head and neck) indistinctly bordered with light brownish, this becoming more distinct posteriorly; upper tail-coverts tipped and barred beneath the surface with pure white; secondaries, primaries, and primary coverts narrowly but sharply tipped with pure white; tail crossed with five very sharp bars of pure white, the last terminal, the first two concealed by the coverts; these transverse spots touch the shaft, but not the edge of the feather; on the lateral feather they are confined to the inner web. Chin, throat, neck, and breast, abdomen, crissum, and lower tail-coverts, deep orange (not chestnut) rufous; in fact, this forms the ground-color of the whole lower parts; but the sides, flanks, and abdomen have such large transverse spots of black (these exceeding the orange in amount), giving the prevailing color; the orange of the jugulum is sharply defined, with a semicircular outline, against the black of the belly, and has distinct lanceolate shaft-streaks of black; the lower part of the abdomen, and the tibiæ, have cordate or broadly sagittate black spots, rather exceeding the orange; the lower tail-coverts have broad transverse spots of black. (The orange is deepest on the jugulum and crissum, being palest where most thickly spotted; it is immaculate only on chin, throat, and neck; the markings are longitudinal only on the jugulum.) Lining of the wing like the belly, that is, the black predominating; under surface of primaries with transverse elliptical spots of pale cream-color, seven in number on the longest. Wing-formula, 2, 1–3. Wing, 9.90; tail, 5.40; culmen, .72; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, 1.75; outer toe, 1.20; inner, 1.00; posterior, .80.

List of Specimens examined.—National Museum, 1; G. N. Lawrence, 1; Boston Society, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 3. Total, 7.

Measurements.—♀. Wing, 10.90–11.30; tail, 6.00–6.25; culmen, .90; tarsus, 1.50–1.60; middle toe, 1.85–2.10.

[57] Falco rufigularis, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 131, 1800.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 88, 1855. Hypotriorchis rufigularis, Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 5, 1844; List B. Brit. Mus. p. 54, 1848; Hand List, I, 21, 1869.—Bonap. Consp. Av. (sub F. aurantius.).—Gray, Hand List, I, 21, 1869. Falco aurantius, β, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 48, 1790. Falco aurantius, γ, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 48, 1790. Falco aurantius, Temm. Pl. Col. sub. pl. cccxlviii, 1836.—Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 61, 1823.—Cass. B. N. Am. 1858, 10.—Elliot, Birds N. Am. pl. xi. Falco albigularis, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 131, 1800. Falco hæmorrhoidalis,

Hahn, Vög. XV, Lief. pl. i, 1818. Falco cucullatus, Swains. An. Menag. p. 340, 1838. Falco thoracicus, Donovan, Nat. Rep. pl. xlv, 1822.

Sp. Char. Adult (♂, 52,820, Mazatlan, Western Mexico; Col. A. J. Grayson). Above dark slate, with a bluish-plumbeous cast, and uniform over whole surface (wings included) from nape to tail. Anteriorly the tint is almost black, this covering continuously the whole upper and lateral portion of the head, reaching down to the throat, and forming a broad angular projection over the cheeks, which are purer black. All the feathers above darker centrally, but the obscure spots so formed mostly concealed; shafts of the feathers inconspicuously black; upper tail-coverts each with two broad transverse spots of black. Secondaries, primary coverts, and primaries uniform dull black; the former, and inner feathers of the latter, very narrowly ashy-whitish on terminal border,—the coverts with a bluish shade terminally. Tail black (dull light brown at apical margin), crossed with about six obsolete narrow bands of plumbeous, these changing to narrower white bars on the inner webs. Chin, base of maxillæ, throat, sides of the neck, and jugulum, ochraceous-white, the ochraceous tinge deepest posteriorly; breast (broadly across) and sides black, with numerous narrow transverse bars of reddish-white, becoming more ashy posteriorly; abdomen, anal region, tibiæ, femorals, and lower tail-coverts uniform deep, almost castaneous, rufous. Lining of the wing dull black, with circular ochraceous-white spots, but former predominating; whole under surface of primaries and secondaries a similar blackish-dusky, the former with narrow transverse elliptical spots of white, of which there are eight (the first and last merely indicated) on the longest quill. Wing-formula, 2–1–3. Wing, 7.70; tail, 3.95; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, 1.20. Tail slightly emarginated; second and third feathers longest (counting from exterior).

♀ (5,218, Mazatlan; Colonel Grayson). Almost precisely similar to the male; less contrast between blackish-plumbeous of the nape, and more bluish of the back; bands on tail five in number; bars on black beneath more reddish. Wing-formula same. Wing, 8.80; tail, 4.40; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.30.

Juv. (Bryant Coll. 1,531, Orizaba, Mex.). Above continuous dull black, without bluish cast or concealed spots; tail-bands narrower, purer white; black beneath duller, transverse bars more obsolete, broader, and pale rusty; chestnut-rufous of posterior lower portions lighter and less uniform; lower tail-coverts with broad transverse spots of plumbeous-black. Wing-formula as in adult. Wing, 8.75; tail, 4.40.

Two young males from Tehuantepec, Mexico (Nos. 613 and 613, May 16, 1871; F. Sumichrast), differ from that described above in some remarkable respects: the upper parts are in one black, but without the rusty margins to the feathers; in the other, almost exactly as in the adult plumage described. The lower parts, however, are most different; the throat and jugular are uniform deep soft ochraceous, with a few longitudinal streaks of black near the black abdominal patch; the bars in this last are deep rufous, and the terminal band of the tail is also deep rufous. The weak bill, and soft, blended character of the plumage, indicate unmistakably the very young age of these specimens, which are also marked “very young” by M. Sumichrast.

In colors, as well as in size and form, this very handsome little Falcon closely resembles the F. severus, Horsf., of Manilla and the neighboring East Indian Islands; the main difference is that in that species the lower surface is wholly deep rufous, instead of partly black.

List of Specimens examined.—National Museum, 11; Boston Society, 6; Philadelphia Academy, 7; New York Museum, 3; G. N. Lawrence, 3; R. Ridgway, 2. Total, 32.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 7.20–8.80; tail, 4.20–5.10; culmen, .45–.55; tarsus, 1.25–1.50; middle toe, 1.15–1.30. Specimens, 13. ♀. Wing, 8.50–9.00; tail, 5.00–5.50; culmen, .58; tarsus, 1.48–1.55; middle toe, 1.30–1.40. Specimens, 8.

Hab. Tropical America, northward through Central America and Mexico almost to southern border of United States.

Localities: Veragua, Scl. & Salv. 1869, 252.

[58] Falco (Æsalon) lithofalco, var. lithofalco (Gmelin). Accipiter lithofalco, Briss. Orn. I, 1760, 349. Falco lithofalco, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 278. Æsalon lithofalco, Kaup. Ueb. Falk. Mus. Senck. 258. Falco regulus, Gmel. S. N. 1798, 285. Accipiter æsalon, Briss. Orn. I, 1760, 382. Falco æsalon, Gmelin, S. N. 1789, 284.—Yarrell, Hist. Brit. B., ed. 1871, 74. Hypotriorchis æsalon, Gray, Gen. 1844, Sp. 10. Falco intermixtus, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 1800, 141. Falco emerillus, Savigny, Descr. Egypt, Pt. I, 1809, 100. Falco sibiricus, Shaw, Zoöl. VII, 1812, 207. Falco cæsius, Meyer, Tasch. deutsch. Vög. I, 1810. Falco subæsalon, Brehm, Vög. Deutsch. I, 1831, 67.

Hab. Europe and Western Asia; Iceland.

List of Specimens examined.—National Museum, 8; Boston Society, 4; Cambridge Museum, 3; New York Museum, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 3. Total, 20.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 7.60–8.00; tail, 5.10–5.30; culmen, .45–.50; tarsus, 1.35–1.45; middle toe, 1.15: specimens, 10. ♀. Wing, 8.60–9.00; tail, 6.00–6.30; culmen, .52–.55; tarsus, 1.45–1.47; middle toe, 1.20–1.25: specimens, 10.

[59] Proceedings Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, Dec., 1870, pp. 147–149.

[60] See London Ibis.

[61] A synopsis of the geographical races of T. sparverius comes after the remarks on that species, page 1486.

[62] Falco (Tinnunculus) leucophrys. Tinnunculus sparveroides (not of Vigors!), Lawrence, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 1860, p. 1 (in part; light individuals). Falco sparverius (not of Linn.!), D’Orb. R. Sagra, Hist. Nat. Cuba, p. 25 (probably). Vig. Zoöl. Journ. I, 339; III, 435. Tinnunculus leucophrys, Ridgway, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1870, 147. Hab. Cuba and Hayti.

Adult ♂ (34,244, Remedios, Cuba, December 14, 1863; N. H. Bishop). Head above pure, fine bluish-ash, becoming (broadly) white on forehead; the feathers with delicate shaft-lines of black. Nape, back, scapulars, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail rich purplish-rufous (almost exactly as in sparverius); no bars on dorsal region, except a very few across ends of larger posterior scapulars. Terminal band of tail light rufous, .30 in width; subterminal zone of black, very regular, .55 in width; lateral feather, with outer web and end of inner, reddish-white, the black subterminal band crossing the inner web only; inner web anterior to this, continuous rufous; shafts of tail-feathers rufous. Wings fine bluish-ash, like the crown; middle and lower coverts with a very few elliptical, longitudinal specks or touches of black on the shafts; secondaries passing terminally into white, their exposed basal half pure black; primaries pure black, exposed edges of inner webs paler. Whole under surface of wings immaculate pure white, with a faint delicate reddish tinge; inner webs of primaries serrated along the shaft with dusky. Forehead and superciliary stripe (broadly and sharply defined against the bluish of the crown), whole side of the head (including lores and ear-coverts), and entire lower parts, continuous, immaculate, pure white, with a delicate orange tinge, except anteriorly. The “mustache” is but just indicated by some blackish touches, and in some individuals it is wanting entirely, while in all it is very restricted in width; the other black markings of the head are, however, as in sparverius. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 5.00; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90; culmen, .46. A specimen in Mr. Lawrence’s collection, which with others he has kindly lent me for examination, is in beautifully high plumage. It differs from the type in having the white of the lower parts tinged, or rather stained, with a beautiful, delicate rufous, or almost a salmon-orange. The terminal band of the tail also inclines decidedly to this color, while the white of the under surface of the wing (particularly towards ends of secondaries and primaries) is tinged with a more pinkish shade of the same. Another of Mr. Lawrence’s specimens differs in the clearer white beneath (that is, with less reddish tinge,—the pureness and continuity does not vary), which extends entirely around the neck, giving a sharper definition to the black pattern. The “mustache,” however, is almost entirely absent; the black transverse spots on larger posterior scapulars are rather more conspicuous, and the terminal band of the tail is more purely white.

♀ (31,984, Cuba, J. Ackhurst). Generally similar to sparverius, but rufous brighter, the bars narrower and less numerous; the nape or upper part of back, and rump, being almost immaculate. Tail with ten black bars, these scarcely touching the shaft; the last is about .36 wide, the others about .16; tip of tail scarcely paler than base; lateral feather with outer web edged broadly with paler or ochraceous white, rufous next the shaft, immaculate; inner web with only three or four very narrow bars on terminal half. Head as in the male, but vertex considerably tinged with rufous. Whole lower parts, including frontal and lateral regions of the head, continuous pure white; breast with a very faint yellowish tinge; side of the breast and sides with a few scattered minute elliptical longitudinal flakes of rusty,—more black on the shaft. Whole under surface of the wing white, as in the male. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.70; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .90; culmen, .51. A Cuban female belonging to Mr. Lawrence is exactly similar. One in the S. I. Collection, from Hayti (42,420, Port au Prince, June 5, 1860; A. C. Younglove), differs only in less purely black bars, and in utter absence of the mustache. A male from the same locality (43,418) is like it in the last respect.

Juv. ♀ (34,235, Remedios, Cuba, December, 1864; N. H. Bishop). Similar to the adult described, but jugulum tinged with soft pinkish-rufous, and the black bars on upper parts—especially on wings—with a plumbeous cast.

In regard to this form, we must either consider that it is a distinct species, or assume that it is a light phase of a Cuban species, of which T. sparveroides may be the dark or rufescent form; knowing, as we do, that the differences between leucophrys and sparveroides depend on neither sex, age, nor season, then the only way to account for the two phases is to consider that the Cuban bird (if we deny it the rank of a species) presents a very peculiar example of dimorphism. I have never yet seen a specimen which was not decidedly one or the other. An adult male from Cuba is immaculate white beneath, the breast very strongly tinged with deep rufous, the mustache wholly absent. Two females have narrow brown streaks on the breast, the mustache nearly obsolete; the dusky bars on primaries and tail much narrower.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 7; Bost. Soc., 3; Philad. Acad., 2; G. N. Lawrence, 4. Total, 16.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 6.80–7.30; tail, 4.90–5.20; culmen, .45; tarsus, 1.45; middle toe, .90; specimens, 4. ♀, Wing, 7.10–7.60; tail, 4.90–5.60; culmen, .50–.52; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .91; specimens, 6.

[63] Falco (Tinnunculus) sparveroides. Falco sparveroides, Vigors, Zoöl. Journ. III, 436, 1827; Isis, 1830, p. 1166.—D’Orb. (R. de la Sagra), Hist. Cuba, 1840, p. 30, pl. i. Tinnunculus sparveroides, Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 12, 1844.—Fraser, Zoöl. Typ. pl. xxx.—Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 27.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855.—Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 1860, p. 1 (in part dark specimens).—Ridgway, P. A. N. S. Phil. Dec. 1870, 149. Tinnunculus dominicensis (not of Gmel.?), Gray, Hand List, I, 24, 1869.—Gundlach, Repert. Cuba, I, 225, 1865. ? Hypotriorchis ferrugineus, Sauss. Rev. et Mag. Zoöl. 1859, p. 117, pl. iii.

Hab. Cuba (only?).

Adult ♂ (31,985, Cuba; J. Ackhurst). Above, continuously dark plumbeous, from bill to the tail, the shafts of the feathers black (these streaks most noticeable on the head above), the larger scapulars and interscapulars darker centrally, forming indistinct or obscure spots; this plumbeous covers the whole neck laterally, and the middle area of the ear-coverts. An obsolete “mustache” running from the lores downward across the cheeks, a spot across ends of the ear-coverts connected with that on the neck, and obsolete though continuous collar round the nape, inclining to black. Primaries wholly black, basal third of secondaries the same. (No spots on wings.) Tail deep chestnut, shafts of feathers black; terminal band dull slate; subterminal black zone about .60 of an inch in width, but instead of running sharply across, as in all the varieties of sparverius and in leucophrys, the black runs along the edge of each feather, bordering it nearly to the base; the lateral feather has both webs continuous deep chestnut, the tip slate, the subterminal spot and shaft black. Chin and throat dull ashy-white; rest of lower parts continuous deep chestnut-rufous, this palest on the anal region, and tinged with slate across the jugulum as well as on the flanks, where there are a very few darker spots. (The chestnut beneath is unspotted.) Inner webs of primaries mottled along the edge with paler slate, this running in points toward the shafts, giving an idea of bars. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.45; tarsus, 1.31; middle toe, .90; culmen, .50.

♂ (29,579, Cuba, April 25; Charles Wright). Head above, dark plumbeous; feathers with darker shaft-lines; black stripes of head more sharply defined than in the male. Above, continuously deep rufous (brighter and more ferruginous than in the different styles of sparverius), continuously barred, as in var. sparverius, but blacker, the bars on upper part of back with tendency to longitudinal direction. Tail with twelve narrow, sharply defined bars of black; but the ground-color continuous rufous to the tip, the lateral feather as deeply rufous as the middle. Inner webs of primaries deep rusty-rufous, with twelve very narrow transverse bars of dusky crossing to the edge. The middle area of the ear-coverts, with the chin and throat, is dull white; the rest of the lower parts (including side of the neck) and whole lining of the wing are deep rusty-rufous, paler on the crissum, nearly white on the anal region; these regions have no spots, except on the flanks, where are a few narrow transverse bars. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.45; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90; culmen, .51.

Juv. ♂ (39,108, Remedios, Cuba, December 11, 1863; N. H. Bishop). General appearance of the adult; but back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts chestnut-rufous, uniform with the tail; these parts are, however, strongly clouded with more bluish slate, and the blackish spots are more distinct. The black zone of the tail runs more sharply across, and is narrower than in the adult. The middle area of the ear-coverts is nearly as light as the throat. The rufous beneath is less castaneous, as well as less continuous, becoming nearly white on abdomen and tibia; the slaty tinge on the jugulum is wanting. Wing-formula, 3, 2–4, –1. Wing, 6.85; tail, 4.90; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .90; culmen, .50.

♀ (23,546, Monte Verde, Cuba, July 16, 1861; Charles Wright). Differing from the adult in the same respects as does that of sparverius, the chief differences consisting in the deeper chestnut of the tail, and broader and blacker bars above. Rufous beneath, with numerous sagittate spots of black; lower tail-coverts with subterminal bars, and lining of the wing with sparse streaks of the same. Plumage generally with a blended appearance. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4=1. Wing, 7.40; tail, 4.85; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90. Another specimen (No. 23,545, Monte Verde, July 17, 1861; C. Wright) is much the same, but has distinct spots of black on the abdomen, and tear-shaped marking of the same on the scapulars. The young female of this species bears a remarkably close resemblance to the young of T. punctatus, Cuv., of Madagascar, agreeing almost entirely with it in colors, with the exception of those on the tail, the bars on which are black and ash, instead of black and rufous. Whether it be considered a distinct species or not, the T. sparveroides certainly grades into the T. sparverius, in the very near relation of an aberrant condition of the adult phase of the latter, noticed in specimens from Florida and adjoining portions of the South American and Gulf coast, and the young normal or usual plumage of the former. As is well known, the young ♂ sparveroides has a reddish and also more or less barred or spotted back, as in the male of all the races of sparverius at all ages; the intermediate or transition dress of the young male showing cloudings of plumbeous in the rufous, indicative of the coming uniform plumbeous of perfect maturity. Now, knowing that a wholly plumbeous dorsal region in the adult, and wholly or mostly rufous dorsal region in the young male, are characteristic features of T. sparveroides, we are somewhat surprised to find in adult males of T. sparverius var. isabellinus from Florida, a greater or less mixture of plumbeous feathers in various parts of the dorsal region, particularly in the rump and upper tail-coverts. Many specimens from this locality show another approach to the young male of sparveroides in the deep, unspotted rufous of the lower parts, sometimes the throat only being white. A young male of sparveroides from Cuba, and an adult male of sparverius said to be from Cuba, are at a cursory glance not distinguishable; a close comparison, however, will disclose the fact, that in the former, the badly defined head-markings, nearly obsolete black markings on the wings (including basal space of the secondaries, which is conspicuously and sharply defined in the other specimen), and the blurred character of the bars over inner webs of primaries, remain as characters distinguishing the former. The lateral tail-feather, too, has its outer web deep rufous, while it is white, black-spotted, in the specimen of sparverius.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 14; Bost. Soc., 3; Philad., 1; G. N. Lawrence, 4; R. Ridgway, 1. Total, 23.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 6.90–7.10; tail, 4.80–5.10; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.45–1.48

; middle toe, .90. Specimens, 4. ♀. Wing, 7.00–7.50; tail, 5.00–5.15; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.35–1.40; middle toe, .88–.90. Specimens, 3.

[64] Falco sparverius, var. australis. Falco gracilis (not of Lesson!), Swains. An. Menag. p. 281, 1838. Falco sparverius (not of Linnæus!), Tschudi, Faun. Per. An. p. 110. Tinnunculus sparverius (not of Vieillot!), Darw. Zoöl. Beag. pt. iii, 29. Bidens sparverius, Spix, Av. Bras. I, 16. Bidens dominicensis (not F. dominicensis of Gmelin!), Spix, Av. Bras. I, 16. Tinnunculus dominicensis, Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855 (in part). T. sparverius, var. australis, Ridgway, P. A. N. S. Phil. Dec. 1870, 149.

Hab. Most of continental South America, except the North Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts, where replaced by the var. isabellinus. In Chile and Western Brazil, mixed with, but not replaced by, var. ? cinnamominus.

Adult ♂ (20,937, Parana; Coll. of the U. S. Paraguay Exp.). Similar to var. sparverius. Head above with the rufous entirely wanting; rufous of the plumage more vinaceous; black bars of the scapulars almost transversely cordate, and nearer the end of the feather; black zone of the tail only .60 of an inch wide. Beneath continuously white, with elliptical spots or streaks of pure black on sides, becoming somewhat circular on the flanks. Wing, 7.70; tail, 5.30; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .92; culmen, .48. In all respects, except the points described, resembling the true sparverius of North America, of which it is nothing more than a geographical race, and a not very strongly marked one, though the differences indicated are very constant.

♀ (50,942, Brazil; Sr. Don Fred. Albuquerque). Very similar to sparverius; the rufous, equally pale, is, however, more vinaceous; the tail decidedly less rufescent. The black bars are about the same, but on the tail there are thirteen, and the subterminal one is scarcely broader than the rest; the lateral tail-feather has the bars only on inner web, and here almost wanting. Head above as in the male, being without the rufous tinge on the vertex. Beneath yellowish-white, about like sparverius; the whole breast and side with numerous longitudinal dashes of deep brown, similar in form to sparverius, but of much deeper tint. Inner web of longest primary with twelve transverse bars of white, these scarcely exceeding the dusky ones. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4–1. Wing, 7.80; tail, 5.20; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .95; culmen, .55.

Juv. ♂ (16,570, Bogota; W. Evans). Differing from the adult in deeper rufous and broader black bars; those on the tail twelve in number, more than doubling in width those of the adult; markings beneath more blended, darker brown. Differs from young of var. sparverius in much lighter rufous above; less purely black bars; entire absence of rufous on crown, and narrower shaft-streaks here; less ochraceous-white beneath, and less blended markings.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 16; Bost. Soc., 3; Philad. Acad., 16; N. Y. Mus., 4; Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 2; R. Ridgway, 1. Total, 42.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 6.80–7.90; tail, 4.75–5.90; culmen, .48–.50; tarsus, 1.40–1.50; middle toe, .90–1.00. Specimens, 17. ♀. Wing, 7.20–8.15; tail, 5.10–5.80; culmen, .48–.52; tarsus, 1.20–1.52; middle toe, .90. Specimens, 25.

[65] Falco sparverius, var. dominicensis. Accipiter (Æsalon) dominicensis, Brisson, Orn. I, 389, pl. xxxii. f. 2, 1760. Falco dominicensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. p. 285, 1789. Tinnunculus dominicensis, Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855 (in part only). Tinnunculus sparverius, var. dominicensis, Ridgway, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. Dec. 1870, 149.

Hab. Lesser Antilles north to Porto Rico and St. Thomas.

Adult ♂ (52,428, St. Bartholemi; Professor Sundevall). Resembling var. isabellinus in general appearance, but darker, and more heavily barred above; beneath much more spotted. Head above with blackish shaft-streaks and vertex with a patch of rufous; this, however, somewhat restricted. Rufous above, with numerous broad bars of black, these running continuously across and extending anteriorly to the neck; rump even, with a few very small, transversely sagittate specks of the same. Tail crossed by nine perfectly regular and sharply defined narrow bands of pure black, anterior to the subterminal zone, which is about .80 of an inch wide; outer feather white, tinged medially with rufous, barred with black to the base. Black spotting in dark cinereous of the wing very exaggerated in comparison with var. sparverius. Markings beneath very numerous, the sides being thickly marked with large cordate or nearly circular spots of black, these growing larger toward the flanks. The rufous of the breast is about as in var. isabellinus. Wing, 6.80; tail, 5.10; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .94; culmen, .53. Wing-formula, 3–2–4, 5, 6–1.

♀ (52,429, St. Bartholemi; Professor Sundevall). Black bands above exceeding in breadth the rufous ones; each feather of the head above with a sharp medial streak of black. Tail with twelve bands of black; outer feather approaching white. Markings beneath pure black, as in the male; their course longitudinal anteriorly, on the sides more circular, transverse on the flanks. Wing, 6.70; tail, 5.00; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.00; culmen, .53. Wing-formula, 3, 2–4–1, 5.

The male selected for the type is an extreme example; no others have the character of the variety presented in a degree as exaggerated as this specimen. Nos. 362 (♂) and 170 (♀) of the Bryant Collection

from Porto Rico, and No. 36,554 (♂, St. Thomas; Robert Swift), may be taken as more perfect, or rather as average representatives of the variety. These two males are almost exactly similar. They have the back as strongly barred as in the type, and the black spots on the rump are as noticeable; but the tail, instead of being crossed by regular, perfectly continuous, sharply defined bands, has these broader and more broken, being indicated only by spots along the edge; they also decrease in width toward the base. The Porto Rico specimen has very much ashy-white between the two last black bars, this being found on the four lateral feathers; between the next two, on three feathers, etc. The other specimen, however, is destitute of this ashy-white, although the outer web of the lateral feather is pure white,—spotted, however, with black. In the Porto Rico specimen the breast is as deeply ochraceous as in the isabellinus style; but the spots are larger and more numerous even than in any examples of sparverius. A female from here differs from the type only in a few unimportant points, the principal difference being in the markings beneath. In this there is a general ochraceous wash on the lower parts, the markings linear only on the breast, becoming tear-shaped and circular on the sides, and transverse on the flanks; the red patch on the crown is quite extensive. In the whole series the third quill is longest, and the bill is, in all, considerably longer than in any specimen of sparverius excepting those from Florida. Another female from St. Thomas (36,551; Robert Swift) is almost exactly like the one from Porto Rico; the rufous of the crown covers nearly the whole top of the head, and is quite bright. In a series of skins belonging to Mr. Newton, deposited in the S. I. Collection, we find a pair of this variety from the island of St. Croix, W. I. They are perfectly typical examples. The male (“May 2, 1857, B. B.”) has the large black spots of the side transversely cordate; the bands on the tail are broken into spots on edges of the feathers; the female (“s. p. 227, B. 6”) is in nearly all respects like the specimen described.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 7; Bost. Soc., 3; A. Newton, 2. Total, 10.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 6.20–6.80; tail, 4.50–5.50; culmen, .45–.55; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, .95. Specimens, 5. ♀. Wing, 6.80–7.10; tail, 5.50–5.75; culmen, .55; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, 1.05. Specimens, 5.

[66] Falco sparverius, var. cinnamominus. Falco cinnamominus, Swainson, An. Menag. p. 281, 1838. Pœcilornis cinnamominus, Kaup, Monog. Falc. Cont. Orn. 1850, p. 53 (under P. sparverius). Tinnunculus cinnamomeus, Gray, Gen. B. fol. sp. 11, 1844; List B. Brit. Mus. p. 62.—Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 27.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855. Tinnunculus (sparverius var.?) cinnamominus, Ridgway, P. A. N. S. Phil. Dec. 1870, 149.

Hab. Chile and Western Brazil.

Adult ♂ (48,821, Valdivia, Chile, January, 1864; Nat. Mus. of Chile, Dr. Philippi, Dir.). Somewhat like var. australis; in fact, resembling this in general appearance. Head above, however, very dark dull plumbeous, with very distinct shaft-streaks of black. Back and scapulars sparsely barred with black, the bars broadest posteriorly. Tail much brighter rufous than the back; continuous rufous to the extreme tip; a very narrow subterminal band of black, .30 of an inch wide, crossing about .55 of an inch from the tip, making the terminal deep rufous, nearly twice as wide as the black; toward the outer feathers the black is thrown into a spot on each web, scarcely touching the shaft; on the lateral feather the black is lacking entirely, the inner web being continuous rufous, the outer paler, inclining to ochraceous-white. Primaries conspicuously white terminally; inner webs white, with transverse bars of dusky; there being on the longest (second) ten spaces of white, these more than twice the width of the dusky bars; lining of the wing creamy-white, with minute streaks of black sparsely distributed. Forehead more hoary than the crown; lores white. Ear-coverts, neck, and entire lower parts, continuous dull white; breast with a few minute black streaks; flanks with more expanded tear-shaped dashes of the same. The “mustache” is very conspicuous, as are also the oral, cervical, and nuchal markings. Wing-formula, 2=3–1, 4. Wing, 7.40; tail, 5.15; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .95; culmen, .50. No. 50,944 (Brazil; Sr. Don Fred. Albuquerque) is exactly similar.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 2.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 7.40–7.70; tail, 5.50; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.40–1.42; middle toe, .95. Specimens, 2.

[67] Polyborus tharus. Falco tharus, Molina, Sp. Chil. p. 264, 343; 1782. Polyborus tharus, Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 19, 1855. Falco cheriway, Jacq. Beyträg. p. 17, pl. iv, 1784. Polyborus cheriway, Rich. Schomb. Vers. Faun. Brit. Guiana, p. 741, 1840. Falco plancus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 257, 1789. Falco brasiliensis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 262, 1789 (et Auct.). Polyborus brasiliensis, Vig. Zoöl. Journ. I, 320, 1824. Caracara vulgaris, Less. Tr. Orn. p. 34; 1831. Polyborus vulgaris, Spix. Av. Bras. I, pl. i, a.

Adult male (21,850, South America; T. R. Peale). Forehead, crown, occiput, and wings brownish-black; middle wing-coverts fainter, with obscure whitish bars; primaries white in the middle (just beyond the coverts), this portion having obsolete washes of grayish, in form of faintly indicated transverse bars; basal three-fourths of the tail white, with numerous narrow, washed bars of grayish, these becoming more faint toward the base; tail with a terminal zone of black, about two inches broad. Cheeks, chin, and throat soiled white, unvaried; body in general (including neck, breast, sides, abdomen, back, and scapulars) transversely barred with black and white, the white prevailing anteriorly; beneath, the black bars grow gradually wider posteriorly, giving the tibiæ and femorals a uniformly blackish appearance; on the back and scapulars also the black bars exceed the white in width, but they are very sharply defined, regular, and continuous; rump, upper and lower tail-coverts, white, with numerous faint bars of grayish. Under side of the wing black; outer six primaries white in the middle portion, beyond the coverts, this patch extending obliquely across; secondaries rather broadly barred on basal two-thirds with black and white, leaving the terminal third unvaried. Third quill longest; fourth scarcely shorter; second intermediate between fifth and sixth; first a little longer than seventh. Wing, 16.00; tail, 6.50; tarsus, 3.50; middle toe, 1.75.

Young (13,923, South America; T. R. Peale). Forehead, crown, occiput, nape, back, wings, and lower parts dark sepia-brown; feathers of the breast, sides, and abdomen marked centrally with a broad longitudinal stripe of soiled fulvous-white; those of nape and back more obsoletely striped, and variegated irregularly at ends with the same; wing-coverts passing terminally into pale brownish; secondaries obscurely barred with the same. Cheeks, chin, and throat unvariegated soiled white; tibial feathers with shaft-stripes of pale fulvous. Rump, tail-coverts, and tail as in adult. Several specimens from Buenos Ayres (Conchitas; Wm. H. Hudson), and one from Paraguay (59,236; T. J. Page, U. S. N.), have the black of the lower part of the abdomen and flanks quite continuous. There is never, however, in South American specimens, an approach to the peculiar characters of auduboni, as defined.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 7; Bost. Soc., 4; Philad. Acad., 3; N. Y. Mus., 3. Total, 17.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 16.00–17.20; tail, 10.00–11.00; culmen, 1.20–1.30; tarsus, 3.70–3.90; middle toe, 1.75–2.15. Specimens, 2. ♀. Wing, 17.70; tail, 10.00; culmen, 1.41; tarsus, 4.20; middle toe, 2.30. Specimens, 1. Sex? Wing, 15.50; tail, 10.00; culmen, 1.30; tarsus, 3.65; middle toe, 1.90. Smallest of 4.

[68] Pandion haliætus, var. haliætus (Linn.). Aquila haliætus, Briss. Orn. I, 440, pl. xxxiv. Falco haliætus, Linn. S. N. I, 1766, 129. Pandion haliætus, Less. Man. Orn. I, 86. Falco arundinaceus, Gmel. 1733. Pandion fluvialis, Savign. Descr. Egyp. I, 96, 1809. Pandion alticeps and planiceps, Brehm, Vög. Deutschl. 33, 1831. Pandion indicus, Hodgs. Cat. Gray’s Misc. 81.

Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 3; Bost. Soc., 2; Philad. Acad., 3; other sources, 10. Total, 18.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 18.00–18.50; tail, 8.50–8.70; culmen, 1.20–1.30; tarsus, 1.95–2.00; middle toe, 1.50–1.80. Specimens, 4. ♀. Wing, 19.50–20.50; tail, 9.00–9.50; culmen, 1.35–1.45; tarsus, 2.00–2.10; middle toe, 1.85–1.90. Specimens, 4.

Five specimens from the Palæarctic Region (including one from Japan and one from Morocco) compare with three from India as follows:—

Palæarctic specimens: Wing, 18.70–20.40; tail, 9.00–10.00; culmen, 1.28–1.35; tarsus, 2.15; middle toe, 1.75–1.80.

Indian specimens: Wing, 17.00–19.75; tail, 7.00–8.75; culmen, 1.28–1.35; tarsus, 2.00; middle toe, 1.75.

The Indian specimens are slightly darker than the northern ones. In the northern series, the smallest is one from Morocco. This has the breast as white as any Australian example, and has the head and neck above as light as in many of them. The Japanese specimen is exactly like European ones in color, but is intermediate between them and the Indian ones in size, measuring, wing, 17.50; tail, 8.80; culmen, 1.30; tarsus, 2.15; middle toe, 1.60. The smallest in the series is one from Celebes, in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Cambridge (No. 12,196). This one measures, wing, 15.20; tail, 7.50; culmen, 1.20; tarsus, 2.00; and middle toe, 1.60. In colors it approaches very closely to var. leucocephalus.

[69] Pandion haliætus, var. leucocephalus (Gould). Pandion fluviatilis, var. 1, Less. Tr. Orn. 1831, 46. Pandion leucocephalus, Gould, Synop. B. Austr. I, 1832, 22, pl. vi. Pandion gouldi, Kaup, Isis, 1847. Specimens examined.—Philad. Acad., 8 (Gould’s types); Boston Soc., 1. Total, 9.

[70] McGillivray describes this plumage as that of the young, and states that the sexes are colored alike; but my observations upon freshly killed specimens, as well as skins, induce me to believe that the sexes are differently colored in their adult plumage, as described above, and the young are not different from the adults. I may be mistaken in adopting this view, but a male killed by myself, in the white-bordered plumage, had scarlet irides and other unmistakable characteristics of perfect maturity.

[71] Elanus leucurus, var. axillaris (Latham). Falco axillaris, Lath.—N. S. Wales, Draw. I. No. 49, 1801. Circus axillaris, Vieill. N. D. IV, 453. Elanus axillaris, Gray, Ann. N. H. XI, 189.—Ib. Hand List, I, 28, No. 261. Elanus notatus, Gould, B. Aust. I, pl. xxiii.

Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 3; Boston Soc., 1.

[72] Elanus leucurus, var. scriptus (Gould). Elanus scriptus, Gould, P. Z. S. pl. x, 1842, 80.—Bonap. Consp. 22.—Kaup, Monog. Falc. in Jardine’s Coutr. Orn. 1850, 60.—Gray, Hand List, I, 28, No. 262.

Specimens examined.—Mus. Comp. Zoöl., Cambridge, 1.

[73] Elanus cæruleus, var. cæruleus (Desfontaines). Falco cæruleus, Desfont. Mém. Ac. Sc. 1787, 503, pl. xv. Elanus cæruleus, Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 1855, 137. Falco melanopterus, Daud. Tr. Orn. II, 1800, 152. Elanus melanopterus, Leach, Zoöl. Misc. pl. cxxii.—Gould, B. Eur. pl. xxxi.—Gray, Hand List, I, 28, No. 258. Falco clamosus, Shaw, Zoöl. VII, 200. Elanus cæsius, Savig. Descr. Egyp. pt. i, p. 98. Elanoides cæsius, Vieill. Enc. Méth. III, 1206.

Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 2 (Southern Europe).

[74] Elanus cæruleus, var. minor (Bonap.). Falco vociferus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1790, 16. ? Falco sonninensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. 1801, 12. Elanus minor, Bonap. Consp. 1850, p. 22.—Gray, Hand List, I, 28, No. 259.

Specimens examined.—Am. Mus., N. Y., 4 (2 India, 2 Africa); Boston Soc., 4 (3 Juv.); Mus. Comp. Zoöl., Cambridge, 2. Total, 10.

[75] Ictinia plumbea (Gmel.). Falco plumbeus, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 283. Ictinia plumbea, Vieill. 1816, 24.—Gray, Hand List, I. Nertus plumbeus, Boie, Isis, 1828, 314. Pœcilopteryx plumbeus, Kaup, Ueb. Falk. Mus. Senck. 1845, 258. Milvus cenchris, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. 1807, pl. x. Buteo cenchris, Cuv. Règ. An. (ed. 2), I, 1829, 337.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 4; Philadelphia Academy, 4; New York Museum, 4; Boston Society, 4; Museum Comp. Zoöl., 1; Cab. G. N. Lawrence, 2; Coll. R. Ridgway, 1. Total, 20.

[76] Rostrhamus sociabilis, var. sociabilis (Vieill.). Herpetotheres sociabilis, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. XVIII, 318, 1818; Enc. Méth. III, 1248. Rostrhamus sociabilis, D’Orb. Voy. Am. Merid. II. 73, 1835; Synop. Av. Mag. Zoöl. 1850. Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. p. 47; Gen. and Subgen. Brit. Mus. p. 6.—Kaup, Monog. Falc. Cont. Orn. 1850, 78.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 136, 1855. Falco rostrhamus, Max. Beiträg. III. 182, 1830. Cymindis leucopygus, Spix, Av. Bras. I, 7, pl. ii, 1824. Rostrhamus niger, Less. Tr. Orn. p. 56, 1831.

Hab. South and Middle America, from Buenos Ayres to Eastern Mexico (Mirador).

Localities: Guatemala (Scl. Ibis, I, 220); Ecuador (Sclater, 1860, 289); Panama (Lawrence, VII, 1861, 316); La Plata (Burmeister, II, 1861, 435); Brazil (Pelz. Orn. Bras. I, 6); Buenos Ayres (Scl. & Salv. 1869, 160).

The numerous South American specimens which have come under my notice all differ in the respects pointed out in the synopsis from West Indian and Floridan examples. The following descriptions of a pair of the southern race will show the average characters of var. sociabilis.

Adult male (Baranquilla, Ecuador, Crowther; Coll. G. N. Lawrence). Differing from the Florida male in being much darker; general color plumbeous-black, instead of glaucous-plumbeous; head, wings, and tail deep black. Wing-formula, 3=4, 5–2, 6–7, 1. Wing, 12.90; tail, 7.80; culmen, 1.05; tarsus, 1.65; middle toe, 1.45; hind toe, .80; its claw, 1.10.

Adult female, with traces of immature plumage (53,081, Conchitas, Buenos Ayres, September, 1867; William H. Hudson). Whole plumage (except tail-coverts) brownish-black, deepest black on head and tail; more brownish on wing-coverts and slightly glaucous on the neck. All the feathers, except those of the head, neck, and back, bordered inconspicuously with paler; these edgings more distinct and rufescent on the lesser wing-coverts; tibiæ tinged with rusty. Wing-formula, 3=4, 5–2–6–7, 1. Wing, 14.00; tail, 7.60; culmen, 1.00; tarsus, 1.70; middle toe, 1.60; hind toe, .95; its claw, 1.20.

A specimen from Mexico, supposed to be from Mirador (No. 44,444), is dark in color, like South American examples; the bill is unusually large, the chord of the culmen measuring 1.25; wing, 14.25; tail, 8.30; tarsus, 1.70; middle toe, 1.65.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 7; New York Museum, 2; Cab. G. N. Lawrence, 2; Museum, Cambridge, 1; Boston Society, 3. Total, 17.

[77] Rostrhamus hamatus (Vieill.). Falco hamatus, Temm. Pl. Col. 61, 231, 1899.—Illig. Mus. Berol. Buteo hamatus, Vieill. Enc. Méth. III, 1223. Rostrhamus tæniurus, Cab. J. für. Orn. 1854, p. lxxx. No. 16,634 (Amazon River; Lieutenant Herndon). Entirely uniform plumbeous, with a glaucous cast, becoming darker on the head, and black on primaries and tail; tail perfectly even, with an obscurely indicated, narrow, interrupted band of dark plumbeous across its middle portion. A specimen in the collection of the Boston Society has the bands on the tail more conspicuous, and agrees with the R. tæniurus of Cabanis. I have seen no young specimens of this species, but, judging from Temminck’s figure, cited above, they are very similar to the same stage of R. sociabilis.

[78] The females and immature males are hard to distinguish, and from the unsatisfactory character of the material at my command I have not succeeded in finding reliable characters by which these plumages of the three races may be distinguished. Consequently I give only the characters of the adult males, in defining the distinctions between them.

[79] Circus cyaneus, var. cyaneus (Linn.). Falco cyaneus, Linn. S. N. 1766, 126. Circus cyaneus, Less. Man. Orn. I, 105.—Gould, B. Europe, pl. xxxiii.—Bonap. List, 22.—Degl. Orn. Eur. I, 74.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 147.—Gray, Hand List, I, 37, No. 364. Falco pygargus, Linn. S. N. 1766, 126. Circus pygargus, Steph. Zoöl. XIII, pl. ii, 41.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 3; Philadelphia Academy, 4; New York Museum, 1; Boston Society, 5. Total, 13.

[80] Circus cyaneus, var. cinereus (Vieill.). Circus cinereus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. H. N. IV, 1816, 454.—Darwin, Zoöl. Beag. pt. iii, 30.—D’Orb. Synop. Av. Mag. Zool. 1837.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 156.—Gray, Hand List, I, 37, No. 368. Circus campestris, Vieill. Enc. Méth. III, 1823, 1213. Circus frenatus, Licht. Verz. Doubl. 1823, p. 62. Circus histrionicus, Quoy, Zoöl. Journ. III, 1826, 271.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 7; Philadelphia Academy, 5; Boston Society, 3; Museum Cambridge, 1; Cab. G. N. Lawrence, 1. Total, 17.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 12.40–13.25; tail, 8.50–9.00; culmen, .62–.63; tarsus, 2.42–2.60; middle toe, 1.20–1.25. Specimens, 11. ♀. Wing, 13.75–14.50; tail, 9.30–10.50; culmen, .75–.80; tarsus, 2.80–3.00; middle toe, 1.40–1.50. Specimens, 5.

[81] Not admissible as having been bestowed by a non-binomial author, and of prior date to the commencement of binomial nomenclature.

[82] In the collection of the National Museum are two specimens of cooperi, var. gundlachi, in the young plumage. They differ from the young of var. cooperi merely in darker colors, the brown markings being larger and more numerous, as well as deeper in tint. That their character may be better understood, I furnish the following more detailed descriptions:—

Young male (41,129, Cuba, Dr. Gundlach). Above dark, blackish vandyke-brown, the feathers bordered inconspicuously with dark rusty; tail dull slate, narrowly tipped with ashy-white, and crossed with four broad bands of dusky, almost equal to the slate; beneath white, much tinged on breast and tibiæ with reddish-ochraceous; thickly striped with umber-brown, except on crissum; the streaks on throat narrow and cuneate, those on breast broad, and on sides changing into broad transverse spots or bars; tibiæ thickly spotted transversely with more reddish, nearly rufous, brown; larger lower tail-coverts with narrow shaft-streaks of black. Occiput showing much concealed white; the ends of the feathers deep black. Wing, 8.60; tail, 7.50; culmen, .68; tarsus, 2.50; middle toe, 1.70.

Young female (41,128, Cuba, Dr. Gundlach). Similar, but more thickly striped beneath, the dark markings about equalling the white in extent; whole sides with large transverse spots of umber, cuneate along shaft. Wing, 10.50; tail, 9.50.

The synonomy of this race is as follows: Accipiter gundlachi, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VII, May, 1860, 252.—Gund. Rep’t, 1865, 224.—Scl. & Salv. Ex. Orn. I, 170.—Gray, Hand List, I, 33, No. 319. The N. fuscus, var. fringilloides (Vigors), of Cuba, I have not seen. Its synonomy stands as follows: Accipiter fringilloides, Vig. Zoöl. Journ. III, 1826, 534.—Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VII, 1860, 255 (with descriptions and synonomy).—Gundl. Rep’t, 1865, 224.—Gray, Hand List, I, 32, No. 311.

[83] Astur palumbarius, var. palumbarius (Linn.). Falco palumbarius, Linn. S. N. 1766, 130. Astur p., Cuv. Règ. An. (ed. 1), I, 320; et Auct. Hab. Europe and Asia.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 10; Boston Society, 5; Museum Comp. Zoöl., Cambridge, 1; New York Museum, 1. Total, 19.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 12.25–13.70; tail, 9.40–10.00; culmen, .80; tarsus, 3.00; middle toe, 1.80. ♀. Wing, 13.80–14.50; tail, 10.10–10.90; culmen, .90–.95; tarsus, 2.80–3.15; middle toe, 2.05–2.20.

[84] Asturina nitida, var. nitida (Lath.). Falco nitidus, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 40.—Daud.—Temm.—Spix. Astur n., D’Orb. Voy. Ois. p. 95.—Burm. Syst. Neb. II, 68.—Leotaud, Ois. Trin. p. 46.—Gray.—Vig.—Stephens.—Less.—D’Orb. Asturina n., Bonap. Consp. p. 30.—Caban. in Schomb. Guian. III, 737.—Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 3.—Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, 369; 1867, 589; 1868, 173; 1860, 288; 1869, 130.—Kaup.—Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VII, 316. Dædalion n., Less. Tr. Orn. p. 65. Asturina cinerea, Vieill. Anal. 24, 68; Nouv. Dict. III, 41; Enc. Méth. III, 1260; Gal. Ois. pl. xx.—Vig. Zoöl. J. I, 324, 327.—Steph. Zoöl. XIII, pt. ii. Cymindis c., Less. Man. Orn. I, 91. Astur striolatus, Cuv. Règ. An. (ed. 2), I, 332.

Specimens examined.—Philadelphia Academy, 8; New York Museum, 1; Cab. G. N. Lawrence, 3; Boston Society, 4 (Brazil); Museum, Cambridge, 2 (Panama). Total, 18.

Measurements.—Sex not indicated. Wing, 9.80–10.20; tail, 7.00–8.00; culmen, .80–.90; tarsus, 2.55–2.78; middle toe, 1.60–1.65.

[85] The type of Craxirex, Gould (Voyage of Beagle, 1838, 22), is the Buteo galapagoensis, Gould, a species strictly congeneric with Buteo borealis.

[86] Falco unicinctus, Temm. Pl. Col. 313, 1820. Morphnus unicinctus, Less. Man. Orn. I, 1828, 90. Astur unicinctus, Cuv. Règ. An. (ed. 2), I, 1829, 332.—Strickl. Orn. Syn. I, 221.—Kaup, Monog. Falc. 1850, p. 66. Buteo unicinctus, Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. 18.—Ib. Hand List, I, 7, No. 55. Nisus unicinctus, Less. Tr. Orn. p. 61. Hypomorphnus unicinctus, Tschudi, Fauna Per. pp. 17, 85. Spizageranus unicinctus, Kaup, Ueb. Senck. 1845, 260. Urubitinga unicincta, Lafr. Rev. Zoöl. 1849, 99.—Pelz. Orn. Bras. I, 1868, 3, No. 10.—Ib. IV, 1871, 394. Polyborus tæniurus, Tschudi, Av. Consp. Wiegm. Arch. 1844, 264.—Ib. Fauna Per. pl. ii, Juv. It seems that the South American birds of this species never attain the simple tricolored plumage assumed by the adult of the North American form, Temminck’s figure (Pl. Col. 313) representing the nearest approach to it that I have seen, in a large series of adult specimens. The following descriptions show the average adult of var. unicinctus:—

Adult male (No. 13,908, Chile; Lieutenant Gilliss). Resembling the immature of var. harrisi, as described on p. 1569 (No. 56,763). Primaries edged terminally with whitish; inner webs of tail-feathers mottled whitish for their basal half, not showing the regular transverse bars seen in the immature of var. harrisi; under surface of primaries almost wholly white, becoming ashy, barred with dusky, towards their ends. Wing, 12.00; tail, 8.30; tarsus, 2.90; middle toe, 1.60. Adult female (No. 13,907, Chile; Lieutenant Gilliss). Similar to No. 13,908, but the tibiæ more strongly barred. Wing, 12.50; tail, 8.30.

Specimens examined.—National Museum, 9; Philadelphia Academy, 9; Boston Society, 4; New York Museum, 1. Total, 23.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 11.65–13.15; tail, 9.00–10.10; culmen, .82–1.00; tarsus, 2.78–3.40; middle toe, 1.52–1.75. Specimens, 8. ♀. Wing, 12.50–14.60; tail, 9.20–10.50; culmen, .90–1.02; tarsus, 3.10–3.40; middle toe, 1.60–1.85. Specimens, 6.

[87] “Nest in oak-tree, in edge of wood, by lake.”

[88] “Nest twenty-five feet high, in oak-tree.”

[89] “Nest at top of broken poplar-tree near lake.”

[90] Buteo borealis, var. costaricensis, Ridgway. Buteo borealis (all citations from Central America).

Sp. Char. Adult (No. 30,409, Costa Rica; Dr. A. von Frantzius). Head, neck, and upper parts continuous, unvariegated brownish-black; whole throat white, with a few cuneate spots of black; black of the neck meeting narrowly across the jugulum; pectoral area immaculate pure white; upper part of abdomen with an imperfect belt of distinct narrow lanceolate strips of black; whole posterior lower parts fine pinkish ochraceous, unvariegated; tibiæ deepest, inclining to delicate ochraceous-rufous; upper tail-coverts immaculate rufous. Tail as in var. borealis. Wing, 16.00; tail, 9.00; tarsus, 3.20; middle toe, 1.80. Bill very high, abruptly curved. Wing-formula, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2; first, shortest.

This very curious variety is that which departs furthest from the true borealis; not only the details, but in a measure the pattern, of coloration, being greatly modified. The perfectly continuous pure brownish-black of the whole head and neck, sharply contrasted with the white throat-patch, are features which distinguish it from every other variety of this group; while the deep rufous tibiæ, and almost utter absence of transverse bars beneath, are also very distinctive characters.

The second of the two Costa Rican specimens before me (No. 33,507; J. Carmiol) differs from the type in having the white of the pectoral area clouded by an encroachment of the blackish of the neck; and across the abdomen is a deep wash of the same. The tail-feathers exhibit indications of spots along the shafts, as in var. calurus; while the upper tail-coverts have a very few bars of blackish.

Young (37,338, Tres Marias Islands, January; Col. A. J. Grayson). Similar to the adult in general appearance, but differing in the following particulars: Tail deep umber, with about twelve or thirteen narrow bands of black, and very narrowly tipped with whitish; lateral lower parts thickly spotted with blackish, and tibiæ spotted transversely with the same; lower tail-coverts with distant bars of blackish. Upper tail-coverts blackish-brown barred with white, this not touching the shaft.

Hab. Central America and Southwestern Mexico; Costa Rica, Veragua, and Tres Marias Islands (Mus. S. I.).

Localities: (?) Guatemala (Scl. Ibis, I, 217, B. borealis); Costa Rica (Lawr. IX, 133, “var. montanus”).

List of Specimens Examined.—National Museum, 4.

Measurements much the same as in the other varieties.

[91] Archibuteo lagopus (Brunn.), Gray. Falco lagopus, Brunn. Orn. Bor. p. 4, sp. 15 (1764); Penn., Gmel., Lath., Siemss., Daud., Shaw, Naum., Meyer. Buteo lagopus, Steph. et Auct. Butaëtes lagopus, Bonap., Gray, Bailly, Morr., Reich. Archibuteo lagopus, Gray, Gen. B. (ed. 2), p. 3; 1841, et Auct. (Not of American writers, nor when used for the American bird!) Hab. North and Central Europe; Northern Africa.

A comparison of the American birds with series of sixteen European specimens shows constant differences in the birds of the two continents,—quite enough to establish a difference of race, although not of specific value. The European bird is much the darker beneath, the blackish-brown spots on jugulum and breast being blended, or suffused, so as to give the predominating tint to this region.

These differences, though constant and quite appreciable on comparison, are very slight, while the proportions are about the same. A young specimen of the European style differs from American in entire absence of rufous tinge to white of head, neck, and lower parts, less complete band across the abdomen, immaculate white ear-coverts, cheeks, and throat; the tibiæ and tarsi are also much more thickly spotted than in the American young; there is also more white on base of outer surface of primaries.

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 6; Philad. Acad., 8; Bost. Soc., 2. Total, 16.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 16.00; tail, 8.70; culmen, .80; tarsus, 2.30; middle toe, 1.30. Specimens, 1. ♀. Wing, 18.20; tail, 9.75; culmen, .95; tarsus, 2.60; middle toe, 1.50. Specimens, 1.

[92] Aquila chrysaëtus, var. chrysaëtus (Linn.). Aquila valeria, Albin, B, II. pl. ii. Aquila chrysaëtus, Briss. Orn. I, 431, et Auct. Falco chrysaëtus, Linn. S. N. 1760, 125. Aquila melanaëtus, Briss. Orn. I, 434. Falco melanaëtus, Linn. S. N. 124. Aquila regia, Less. Tr. Orn. Falco fulvus, Linn. S. N. 1760, 125 (young).

List of Specimens examined.—Nat. Mus., 4; Philad. Acad., 14; Bost. Soc., 2; Mus. Cambridge, 1; Mus. J. C. Sharp, Jr., 1. Total, 22.

Measurements.—♂. Wing, 23.80–24.30; tail, 14.00–14.50; culmen, 1.68–1.70; tarsus, 3.40; middle toe, 2.40–2.45. Specimens, 2. ♀. Wing, 25.00–25.50; tail, 14.00–14.50; culmen, 1.80–1.85; tarsus, 3.80–4.10; middle toe, 2.85–3.10. Specimens, 3.

[93] Haliaëtus pelagicus (Pall.). Falco pelagicus, Pallas, Zoog. Ros. As. I, 343, pl. ix. Aquila p., Kittl., Boie. Haliaëtus p., Sieb., Gray, Cass. B. Cal. & Tex. I, pp. 31, 110, pi. vi (♀); Ib. Birds N. Am. 1858, 42. Thalassoaëtus, Kaup, Jard. Falco leucopterus, Temm. Falco imperator, Kittl. Hab. Northeastern Asia, Japan (Siebold); Kamschatka.

[94] Established by Vigors, in 1825.

[95] From the Vulturinæ are excluded the genera Gypætus and Neophron, each of which probably constitutes a subfamily by itself.

[96] Sarcorhamphus, Duméril

, 1806. (Type, Vultur gryphus, Linn.)

[97] Cathartes, Illiger, 1811. (Type, Vultur papa, Linn.) Gypagus, Vieill. 1816. (Same type.) Gyparchus, Glog. 1842. (Same type.) Sarcorhamphus, Auct. (in part).

[98] Rhinogryphus burrovianus (Cassin). Cathartes burrovianus, Cass. P. A. N. S. II, 1845, 212.—Ib. Birds Am. 1858, 1.—Gray, Hand List, I, 1869, 3, No. 19.—Coues, Key, 1872, 222. Cathartes urubitinga, Natt. von Pelzeln, Sitz-ber. Wien. Ak. 1861, 7.—Gurney, Cat. Rapt. B. 1864, 46.—Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, 589 (Amazon).—Pelz. Orn. Bras. I, 1868, 1 (Brazil).—Elliot, Illustr. Birds N. Am. II.—Gray, Hand List, I, 1869, 3, No. 20.

Sp. Char. Very similar to R. aura, but neck feathered behind up to the occiput, and the plumage uniformly black, the feathers of the back and wings without brown borders. Adult (34,984, Brazil; Natterer). Bill white; naked skin of the head and throat reddish. Wing-formula, 3, 2, 4=1. Wing, 18.50; tail, 9.00; culmen, .90; cere above, 1.20; tarsus, 2.10; middle toe, 2.25; outer, 1.35; inner, 1.10; posterior, .80. Hab. Eastern Tropical America. Brazil (Pelzeln & Natterer); Amazon (Scl. & Salv.); ?? Jamaica (Sharpe); ?? Vera Cruz, Mexico (Cassin).

[99] Columba fasciata, var. albilinea. Columba albilinea, “Gray,” Bonap. Consp. VI, 1857, 51. Chlorœnas a. Cab. J. 1869, 211.

[100] Columba araucana, Less. Voy. de la Coq. Ois. t. 40. Columba denisea, Temm. Pl. Col. 502. C. meridionalis, King.

[101] Columba caribæa, Gmelin, S. N. 1788, 773.—Gosse, B. Jam. 291.—March, P. A. N. S. Philad. 1863, 301. Patagiœnas c. Scl. P. Z. S. 1861, 80.—Reich. Handb. 65, tab. 230, b, f. 3362.

[102] Columba rufina, (Temm.) Reich. Handb. 62, tab. 222, f. 2583, 2584.—Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. 1861, VII, 333, No. 281 (Panama).—Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, 198 (Amazon).—Ib. 1867, 590.—Scl. Ibis, I, 222 (Guatemala).—Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, 159 (Veragua).—Ib. 1870, 115 (Costa Rica).—Reinh. Vid. Med. Nat. For. 1870, 59 (Brazil).

[103] Columba corensis, Gmel. S. N. I, 1878, 783.—Sallé, P. Z. S. 1857, 235 (Santo Domingo).—Newton, Ibis I, 252 (Santa Cruz).—Cab. J. IV, 108 (Cuba).—Taylor, Ibis, 1864, 171 (St. Thomas). Patagiænas c. Reichenb. Handb. tab. 222, f. 2581.

[104] Columba inornata, Vigors, Pr. Zoöl. Soc. 1847, 37.—De la Sagra, Voy. l’Ile de Cuba, Ois. t. 28.—Cab. J. IV, 106 (Cuba).—Scl. P. Z. S. 1861, 80.—Reichenb. Handb. 62, tab. 222, f. 2582.—Gundl. Repert. Cub. I, 1866, 298.—March, P. A. N. S. 1863, 301 (Jamaica). C. rufina, Gosse, B. Jam. (not C. rufina of Temminck!).

[105] Columba solitaria, McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. III, July, 1847, 233. “Length, 13 inches 9 lines, etc. Alar extent, 23 inches. Wing, from the flexure, 7 inches 5 lines. Tarsus, 1 inch; middle toe, 1 inch 2 lines; first toe, 9 lines, and longer than the third; nails light flesh-color; feet and legs deep red. Iris dark orange. Bill above, 1 inch 1 line, but feathered to within 5 lines of the tip; reddish near the base, whitish near the tip. Head chocolate-blue. Throat chocolate-white. Neck and breast bluish-chocolate with brilliant reflections. Back, belly, flanks, under wing-coverts, and greater exterior wing-coverts, light red color, the last faintly bordered with white. Lesser wing-coverts chocolate-red, forming a bright shoulder-spot of elliptical shape. Quill-feathers dusky, tinged with lead-color on the outer vanes. Third primary longest. Upper and under tail-coverts bluish lead-color. Tail, 5 inches, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers; dusky.”

[106] Zenaida hypoleuca, “Gray,” Bonap. Consp. II, 1857, 83.

[107] Zenaidura yucatanensis, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. IX, 1869. This bird is so exactly intermediate between the Z. carolinensis and Zenaida amabilis, as to lead us to strongly suspect it is a hybrid between the two. With the Z. carolinensis it agrees only in possessing fourteen tail-feathers; the coloration and size and shape of the bill being exactly those of Z. amabilis, while the tail-feathers are intermediate in length and shape between those of the two species. The colors differ from those of Z. amabilis only in being of a just appreciably lighter shade, there being the same broad white tip to the secondaries, brilliant steel-blue sub-auricular spot, and deep reddish crissum, characterizing the Z. amabilis, as distinguished from Z. carolinensis.

[108] Zenaidura graysoni, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. February, 1871, 17. A very distinct species, remarkable for its large, very long, and much depressed bill, and deep ferruginous, instead of pinkish-vinaceous, lower parts. The specimens are unfortunately all young birds, though they are fully grown.

[109] Scardafella squamosa. Columba squamosa, Temm. Pig. et Gal. I, 59. A specimen of this species from Venezuela has the black bars everywhere twice as broad as in Brazilian examples.

[110] Chamæpelia griseola, Spix, Av. Bras. t. 75, a, f. 2.—Reinh. Vid. Med. Nat. For. 1870, 56 (Brazil).

[111] Oreopeleia montana. Columba montana, Linn. S. N. 1758.

[112] Messrs. Sclater and Salvin distinguish the allied species as follows:—

O. poliocephala, Wagler. Brownish-olive; the head plumbeous, lighter beneath; the feathers of the throat darker, and marked with gray; middle of belly milky-white; the flanks and crissum tinged with rufous; tail bronzed-green, the five lateral feathers broadly tipped with buff. Length, 24.00; wing, 10.50; tail, 11.50; tarsus, 3.20. Hab. Table-land of Mexico to west coast (Manzanillo, etc.).

O. vetula, Wagler. Brownish-olive; the head plumbeous, lighter beneath; the middle of the belly tinged with ochraceous or rusty; tail, bronzed green; the five lateral feathers tipped with white or buff. Length, 21.00; wing, 7.70; tail, 9.00; tarsus, 2.50. Hab. Texas to Honduras, on east side of Mexico.

A near ally to O. vetula is the O. leucogastra, Gould (S. & S. p. 539) from Pacific coast of Central America. This differs in pure white of under parts. The size also is considerably less.

[113] Meleagris ocellatus, Temm., Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. I, 73.

[114] As with nearly all the animals which have been brought under domestication by man, the true origin of the common barnyard Turkey was for a long time a matter of uncertainty. As a well-known writer (Martin) observes: “So involved in obscurity is the early history of the Turkey, and so ignorant do the writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries appear to have been about it, that they have regarded it as a bird known to the ancients by the name of Meleagris (really the Guinea-fowl or Pintado), a mistake which was not cleared up till the middle of the eighteenth century. The appellation of “turkey,” which this bird bears in England, arose from the supposition that it came originally from the country of that name,—an idea entirely erroneous, as it owes its origin to the New World. Mexico was first discovered by Grigalva in 1518. Oviedo speaks of the Turkey as a kind of Peacock abounding in New Spain, which had already in 1526 been transported in a domestic state to the West India Islands and the Spanish Main, where it was kept by the Christian colonists.”

It is reported to have been introduced into England in 1541. In 1573 it had become the Christmas fare of the farmer.

Among the luxuries belonging to the high condition of civilization exhibited by the Mexican nation at the time of the Spanish conquest was the possession by Montezuma of one of the most extensive zoölogical gardens on record, numbering nearly all the animals of that country, with others brought at much expense from great distances, and it is stated that Turkeys were supplied as food in large numbers daily to the beasts of prey in the menagerie of the Mexican emperor. No idea can be formed at the present day of the date when this bird was first reclaimed in Mexico from its wild condition, although probably it had been known in a domestic state for many centuries. There can, however, be no question of the fact that it was habitually reared by the Mexicans at the time of the conquest, and introduced from Mexico or New Spain into Europe early in the sixteenth century, either directly or from the West India Islands, into which it had been previously carried.

It has, however, always been a matter of surprise that the Wild Turkey of eastern North America did not assimilate more closely to the domestic bird in color, habits, and by interbreeding, although until recently no suspicion was entertained that they might belong to different species. Such, however, now appears to be the fact, as I will endeavor to show.

The proposition I present is, that there are two species, or at least races, of Wild Turkey in North America,—one confined to the more eastern and southern United States, the other to the southern Rocky Mountains and adjacent part of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona; that the latter extends along Eastern Mexico as far south at least as Orizaba, and that it is from this Mexican species, and not from that of eastern North America, that this domestic Turkey is derived.

In the Proceedings of the Zoölogical Society of London for 1856 (page 61), Mr. Gould characterizes as new a Wild Turkey from the mines of Real del Norte, in Mexico, under the name of Meleagris mexicana, and is the first to suggest that it is derived from the domesticated bird, and not from the common Wild Turkey of eastern North America, on which he retains the name of M. gallopavo, of Linnæus. He stated that the peculiarities of the new species consist chiefly in the creamy-white tips of the tail-feathers and of the upper tail-coverts, with some other points of minor importance. I suggest that the Wild Turkey of New Mexico, as referred to by various writers, belongs to this new species, and not to the M. gallopavo.

In 1858, in the Report on the birds collected by the Pacific Railroad Expedition (Vol. IX, p. 618, of the series of Pacific Railroad Reports), I referred to this subject, and established the existence in North America of two species of Wild Turkey,—one belonging to eastern, the other to middle, North America. Much additional material has since corroborated this view, and while the M. gallopavo is found along the Missouri River and eastward, and extends into Eastern Texas, the other is now known to belong to the Llano Estacado and other parts of Western Texas, to New Mexico, and to Arizona.

The recent acquisition of a fine male Turkey by the Smithsonian Institution from the vicinity of Mount Orizaba, in Mexico, and its comparison with a skin from Santa Fé, enables me to assert the positive identity of our Western and the Mexican species, and one readily separable from the better known wild bird of the eastern United States. There is now little reason to doubt that the true origin of the barnyard Turkey is to be sought for in the Mexican species, and not in the North American,—an hypothesis which explains the fact of the difficulty in establishing a cross between our wild and tame birds.

The presumed differences between the two species may be briefly indicated as consisting principally in the creamy or fulvous white of the tips of the tail-feathers and of the feathers overlying the base of the tail and of the hinder part of the back of the Mexican and typical barnyard birds, as compared with the decided chestnut-brown of the same parts in the eastern Wild Turkey. There are other differences, but they are less evident, and those indicated will readily serve to distinguish the two species.

The true wild bird of eastern North America always has the tips of the tail-feathers and upper tail-covert of a chestnut-brown color; the Mexican species and its descendant of the barnyard never exhibit this feature.

Sometimes this domesticated bird is exactly like its wild original, differing only in rather greater development of the fatty lobes of the head and neck; and of this an example may be seen in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

There is a variety of the domestic bird which is entirely black, sometimes even including the larger quills, which in both species are naturally banded with white, and in this there may be little or no trace of any bands at the end of the tail and of its upper coverts; but whatever may be the asseverations of the sportsman, the poultry-dealer, or the farmer, as to the “wildness” of any particular bird, or what the circumstances attendant upon its capture or death by trapping, shooting, or otherwise, implicit confidence may be placed in the test above indicated, namely: if the tips of tail and tail-covert are chestnut-brown, the specimen belongs to the M. gallopavo or “Wild Turkey”; if the same part is either entirely black or any shade of whitish or light fulvous, then it is a “barnyard” fowl.

The following extract from a letter written by Dr. Sartorius, the accomplished naturalist, to whom the Smithsonian Institution owes the specimen of the wild Mexican bird referred to above, will be read with interest.

“Mirador, State of Vera Cruz,
January 20, 1867.

“I am entirely of your opinion in regard to the origin of the domestic Turkey, as our wild bird differs from the tame only in the less amount of development of the fatty lobes of the head and neck.

“Meleagris mexicana is tolerably abundant in this neighborhood, belonging more especially to the sparsely overgrown savannas between the region of the oaks and the coast, the Tierra Caliente or ‘warm region’ proper. It is a very shy bird, living in families like the wild Geese, and keeping sentinels on the watch whenever the flock is feeding in the vicinity of threatened danger. It derives its nourishment from plants and insects on the ground, and scratches with its feet to aid in the search for food. In running, the swiftest dog cannot overtake it. It is not very fond of taking to flight, but its powers in this respect are not behind those of any of the allied forms. Its breeding-season is in March or April, when the hens separate from the males to reunite into families again in September. Their general habits during this season are much as with the domestic bird, although I cannot say whether they inflate and swell themselves out in the same manner. I am, however, inclined to doubt it, as the specimen I have handled did not have the tips of the wing-feathers worn away as in the barn-yard breed. The female lays from three to twelve brownish-red, spotted eggs in the high grain, and hatches them out in thirty days, as is the case with the tame Turkey. The flesh of the wild bird is dry, but very sweet, like the tame fowl, and like the latter is dark on the back and legs, and white on the breast and wings.

“The white meat of the flesh on the breast of the Mexican and the tame Turkey, as compared with the darker meat of the common North American wild bird, is a fact of importance to be taken into consideration.

“The exact distribution of the Mexican Wild Turkey southward and westward is not ascertained, nor is it known that it occupies the western portion of the Mexican country. In Yucatan and Northern Guatemala it is replaced by a third species, the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata), rather less in size, but far more striking in appearance, being marked in the tail with spots somewhat like the ‘eyes’ of the tail of the Peacock. The three species thus belong to Mexico and northern parts of Central America.

“Very truly yours,
“C. SARTORIUS.”

[115] Ortyx virginianus, var. cubanensis. Ortyx cubanensis, “Gould.”—Gray & Mitch. Gen. III, 514. Ortyx, sp. 2.—Gould, Mon. Odont.

[116] The Florida bird has been lately characterized as var. floridanus by Dr. Coues, in his Key to North American Birds.

[117] Cyrtonyx ocellatus, Gould, P. Z. S. IV, p. 78.—Ib. Monog. Odont.

[118] This specimen is the type of C. ochrocephalus, Aiken, Am. Nat. VII, April, 1873, p. 236.