94 FALCONIDE. 
Nisaetus and, as with those birds, the tarsus is closely feathered to the base of the 
toes. 
It is a purely Neotropical genus, ranging over the greater part of tropical South 
America and extending as far north as the Mexican State of Vera Cruz. 
1. Spiziastur melanoleucus. 
Buteo melanoleucus, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. iv. p. 482°. 
Spizaetus melanoleucus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 215 >, PZ. S. 1864, p. 369°; Lawr. Ann. 
Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 182‘; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 388°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, 
p- 868°; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 456°. 
Spiziastur melanoleucus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 258°; Sumichrast, La Nat. v. p. 236°; 
Ferrari-Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 167 °°; Stone, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1890, p. 205. 
Supra niger, alis extus brunnescentioribus, capitis postici et cristee plumis ad basin albis; pileo antico, cervicis 
lateribus et corpore toto subtus albis; loris nigris; subalaribus albis, remigibus subtus ad basin albis, 
ad apicem fuscis albo indistincte fasciatis ; cauda nigra, apice albida fusco quadrifasciata ; rostro nigro ; 
cera, mandibule basi et digitis flavis. Long. tota circa 24-0, ale 16:0, caude 10-0, tarsi 3-2. (Descr. 
maris ex Huamuchal, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Mxxico, Jalapa (Ferrari-Perez !°), Santa Efigenia >°, Uvero ® (Sumichrast), Tizimin 
(Alcala’), near Tekanto and Sitilpech (Stone & Baker); Guatemaua (Skinner *), 
Huamuchal, Savana Grande (0.8. & F.D.G.); Nicaragua, Matagalpa (Zchardson) ; 
Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Z. Arcé), La Palma (Zeledon *), Esparza, Pacuar, San José 
(v. Frantzius®); Panama, Veraguas (E. Arcé), Lion Hill (M*Leannan *).—Sovurtn 
America to Guiana and E. Brazil ®. 
This species is an inhabitant of the forest-regions of the lowlands of Central and 
South America, extending its range northwards as far as the middle of the State of 
Vera Cruz. It has been found in Yucatan, as well as on both the Atlantic and Pacific 
slopes of Central America, being everywhere a somewhat scarce bird. ‘The only 
specimen we obtained in Guatemala was shot at Huamuchal, when we visited the 
freshwater fisheries of that district in the spring of 1863. The bird was resting on 
an upper branch of a high tree, in which it hung after it was shot, so that the tree 
had to be cut down before we could get it. Huamuchal is nearly at the sea-level, 
but the bird occurs at higher elevations, as an example was brought to us, during 
our stay at Duefias, from Savana Grande, which is about 3000 feet above the sea. 
Subfam. MILVINA. 
Though the Kites do not form a very marked group, it is perhaps more convenient 
to recognize them asa subfamily. Ifthe genera are dispersed amongst other subfamilies, 
as placed by Dr. Sharpe, they seem, in our opinion, to introduce a discordant element: 
thus, Elanoides and Elanus are much out of place in the Aquilinz, following the Sea- 
