BUTEO. 57 
$ femine similis, sed minor, Long. tot. circa 19:0, ale 13:5, caudee 9-0, tarsi 3-5. (Descr. ex spec. ex 
Zacatecas. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. Brunneus, ochraceo lavatus; supracaudalibus albis; cauda brunnea, anguste albo terminata, et fasciis 
fere viginti nigricantibus: subtus ochrascens, maculis magnis saturate brunneis ornatis; tibiis fulvis, rufo 
tinctis, et anguste nigro transfasciatis. (Descr. fem. juv. ex Tambo Valley, 8. Peru. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norra America, Louisiana, Texas, Southern New Mexico, Southern Arizona, 
Lower California 2°.—Merxico, Rio Salado, Nuevo Leon (fF. B. Armstrong), 
Guaymas, Sonora (L. Belding ), Choix, Sinaloa (W. Lloyd), Mazatlan 
(Grayson 1°, Kegel 4), Presidio de Mazatlan (A. Forrer), Zacatecas (W. B. 
Richardson), Santana near Guadalajara (W. Lloyd), Tepic, Jalisco ( Grayson 1°), 
Colima (Xantus !*), Guanajuato (Dugés’), Tehuantepec (Sumichrast}*, W. B. 
Richardson), Tapanatepec (Sumichrast 1°), Oaxaca (Sumichrast 18); GUATEMALA 
(G. U. Skinner’); Nicaracua, San Rafael del Norte (W. B. Richardson) ; 
Costa Rica, La Palma, Gulf of Nicoya (C. C. Nutting), San José (Zeledon*}, 
Cherrie 2°); Panama *5, Santa Fé de Veraguas (2. Arcé }°).—VENEZUELA 4; 
Ecuapor 9; Peru®; Curie ?’. 
This species is very common and breeds abundantly in some of the Southern United 
States, especially in Texas, and in Lower California. It probably breeds in Mexico 
also; but of this we have no confirmation, as nearly all our specimens have been 
procured in spring or autumn. We have examined immature birds from Ecuador, 
Venezuela, Peru, and Chile, but have no direct evidence of their breeding in these 
countries. 
Possibly B. harrisi is only a partial migrant to South America, and this would 
account for its apparent rarity in many parts of Central America. We did not meet 
with it in Guatemala, though Skinner obtained a specimen in that country. Only a 
few examples have been procured in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and those 
we received from Mr. Richardson and others from Mexico were all obtained between 
August and March. In South America, from Eastern Brazil to Argentina, and as far 
inland as Salta, its typical ally (B. wnicinctus) differs but little; it is somewhat blacker 
and never entirely loses the mottled appearance of the under surface, while the rufous 
thighs of the southern bird are always cross-barred. In B. harrisi the plumage is 
perfectly uniform in colour both above and below, and the thighs are chestnut without 
any blackish cross-bars. 
In habits the species is frequently described as sluggish. According to Mr. Sennett 
its food consists of mice, lizards, birds, &c.1§ 
In Costa Rica Mr. Nutting 1° says that it is an inveterate poultry thief, associating 
with the Turkey-Vultures and eating offal. 
The nest is either placed in low bushes or in trees at a height of forty or fifty feet 
from the ground. 
The eggs are two or three in number, white or sparsely marked with rufous. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. III., November 1900. 8 
he. CLIX. 
