HERPETOTHERES. ‘113 
Atlantic coast, and about the village of Chimalapa the species was of frequent 
occurrence. Throughout the Pacific coast-region the bird is apparently less numerous, 
a single individual only being observed near the Hacienda “La Grande.” Specimens 
were collected by Leyland and George Whitely in Honduras, the former stating that 
it was tolerably abundant near Omoa. 
In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting shot a single specimen in swampy country near Sucuya. 
From Matagalpa and San Emilio we have received examples from Mr. Richardson, and, 
judging from Mr. Richmond’s notes, the species occurs plentifully on the Escondido 
River. It is not unfrequent in collections from Costa Rica and Panama, as well as 
from the greater part of South America, though not ranging high in the mountainous 
regions. 
The peculiar cry of H. cachinnans has gained for it the name of the ‘ Laughing- 
Falcon.” Leyland® says that its call could be heard for miles, while Mr. Richmond 
avers that the laugh preceding the cry is only audible close at hand. The birds call 
most frequently about dusk, and they may be heard until after dark. The species is 
known by the name of the “ Rain-Crow ” to the Americans on the Escondido River, and 
by that of ‘‘Guansi” to the natives of Guatemala. Mr. Chapman has also given an 
amusing account of the bird and its laughing-note?*. It subsists chiefly upon reptiles 
and rodents, but occasionally preys on birds and grasshoppers. 
The nest and eggs are at present unknown. 
Subfam. FALCONIN. 
The Falcons (Falconine) are nearly world-wide in their distribution, and some 
members of the subfamily are found as far north as any of the Accipitres. The most 
familiar genus is Zinnunculus, some one or more members of which occur in most of 
the temperate and tropical parts of the globe. 
Treating the Kestrels (Zinnunculus) as belonging to a distinct genus from the 
Falcons (Falco), we have but these two genera of the Falconine in our region, the 
species of which, as will be seen below, are widely spread either over North or South 
America or, it may be, over the entire Neotropical Region. 
Dr. Coues defines the Falconine as follows :—“ Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and 
notch near the end of the cutting-edge of the maxilla (sometimes with two such teeth), 
and the end of the mandible truncated with a notch near the tip. Nostrils circular, 
placed high in the cere, with a prominent central tubercle. Inter-nasal septum exten- 
sively ossified. Palate with a median keel anteriorly. Superciliary shield prominent 
in one large piece .... Wings strong, long and pointed, with rigid and usually 
straight and tapering flight-feathers; the tip formed by the second and third quills, 
supported nearly to their ends by the first and fourth which are longer than the fifth, 
only one or two outer primaries emarginate on the inner webs near the end. Tail 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. III., February 1901. 15 
