FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 161 



in a large tree near the border of a stream. Eggs : usually 2, white, irregu- 

 larly blotched with brown, chiefly around the larger end. 



Food. Small mammals, reptiles, Crustacea, insects, and rarely birds. 



In Arizona Dr. Mearus usually found the anthracite or Mexican 

 black hawk hidden in the foliage near water. Occasionally he saw 

 one eating fish on the sandy margin of a river. They are very shy, 

 he says, and their flight is sw r ift and powerful. 



GENUS ASTURINA. 



346. Asturina plagiata Schlegel. MEXICAN GOSHAWK. 



Proportions of Buteo but coloration of Astur ; wings less than 4 times 

 as long as tarsus : four outer primaries cut out on inner webs, second to 

 fifth cut out on outer webs ; tail even, long ; about three fourths wing ; 

 legs long, as in Accipiter ; feet stout. 



Adults. Under parts, except for white under tail coverts, everywhere 

 barred gray and ichite : upper parts plain ash gray or very faintly barred ; 

 top of head and back of neck withjiwe blackish shaft streaks ; wing quills 

 and upper tail coverts white, tail blackish, tipped with white, and crossed 

 by 2 or 3 white bands. Young: under parts white, broadly streaked ex- 

 cept on throat, and tinged with pinkish buff on sides and under wings ; 

 upper parts sooty brown, head and neck streaked, and wings spotted with 

 buffy ; upper tail coverts white ; tail grayish brown, tipped with whitish, 

 and crossed by 6 or 7 black bands. Length: 16-18, wing 9.50-11.70, tail 

 6.70-8.20. bill ".75-1. 00. 



Distribution. From southwestern border of United States to Panama. 



Nest. Of fresh cottonwood twigs w r ith leaves attached, lined with 

 dry leaves and strips of bark. Eggs : usually 2, pale bluish white, 

 unspotted. 



Food. Ground squirrels, mice, birds, small reptiles, and insects. 



The Mexican goshawk frequents open groves and the edges of 

 timber, especially near watercourses. 



Near Tucson, Arizona, Major Bendire had a good opportunity to 

 study its habits. From the middle of April, he says, "not a day 

 passed without my seeing two or three pairs of these handsome lit- 

 tle goshawks (which were readil}' recognized by their light color) 

 engaged in sailing gracefully over the treetops, now T sportively chas- 

 ing each other, or again circling around, the female closely followed 

 by the male, uttering at the same time a very peculiar piping note, 

 which reminded me of that given by the long-billed curlew in the 

 early spring (while hovering in the air in the manner of a sparrow 

 hawk), rather than the shrill cries or screams usually uttered by birds 

 of prey. To my ear, there was something decidedly flute-like about 

 these notes. . . . When in search of food, their flight is powerful, 

 active, and easily controlled. I have seen one of them dart to the 

 ground with arrow-like swiftness to pick up some bird, lizard, or 

 rodent, continuing its flight without any stop whatever." 



