86 FALCONID. 
nucha striatis: subtus plaga magna pectorali nigra, corpore toto reliquo castaneo ; alis nigris, subalaribus 
minoribus et mediis castaneis, majoribus nigricantibus; cauda nigra, bitriente basali castanea nigro 
fasciata; rostro nigricante, pedibus flavidis. Long. tota circa 18-0, ale 14:8, caude 7:0, tarsi 3:5, 
(Descr. exempl. ex Santana Mixtan, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) : 
Juv. corpore supra irregulariter fusco fasciato ; subtus abdomine antico cervino, nigro striato, postico castaneo- 
et cervino variegato; tibiis cervinis, fusco fasciatis. (Descr. femine juv. ex Peten, Guatemala. Mus. 
nostr.) 
Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson*), Presidio de Mazatlan (Forrer), Los Ventorrillos 
near Tlacotalpam (Swmichrast 1°), Vera Cruz (Sallé"); GUATEMALA, Huamnchal 
(0.8. & F. D. G.), Santana Mixtan (0. 9.5), Duefias, Lake Peten (0. S. & # D. G.); 
NicaraGua, Omotépe (Nutting 12), Greytown (Richmond 4) ; Costa Rica, La Palma 
(Nutting #1), Las Trojas, Liberia (Zeledon 8); Panama (Arcé), R. Truando ( Wood 6, 
Shott®), Laguna de Pita (Festa 1°).— South America, Colombia, Guiana}, 
Amazonia 8. 
Essentially Neotropical in its distribution, B. nigricollis is found in localities suitable 
to its habits throughout our region, and in South America it extends to Guiana, 
Amazonia; and Brazil, as far south as the Rio Pilcomayo. 
Judging from our specimens, its distribution is decidedly local, and Sumichrast found 
it of rare occurrence in the parts of Mexico which he explored. In Guatemala we 
observed it was not uncommon about the forest-swamps of the low district in the neigh- 
bourhood of Santana Mixtan. From the stomach of one shot in this locality we took 
the scales of a fish, which, together with the strong smell from the claws, left no doubt 
as to the nature of its food®. At La Palma, in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, 
Mr. Nutting found it in the vicinity of the “Zapotal,” a large freshwater lagoon; it 
was abundant and fearless!1. The same observer states that it also inhabits the island 
of Omotépe, in Lake Nicaragua, seeming to prefer low swampy country. 
Grayson writes that its flight is heavy, resembling that of the common Fish-Hawk, 
the wings being broad and the tail very short. The stomach of a bird he examined 
' contained the recently devoured remains of fish, amongst them a species of perch 
found in the neighbouring lagoons and rivers. 
Of the nest and eggs we have as yet no record. 
a HETEROSPIZIAS. 
Heterospizias, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 160; Ridgw. Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. ii. p. 189. 
This is a form peculiar to the Neotropical Region, represented by a single species of 
wide distribution on the South-American continent, just reaching to Panama and thus 
entering our region. It resembles Urubitinga, but the wings are longer and more 
pointed, like those of the Tachytriorchis-section of the genus Buteo. The style of 
coloration is also quite peculiar, and there is no marked distinction between the 
plumage of the old and young birds. 
