RAPTOKES FALCONIUAE A. NITIDA VAR. PLAGIATA. 



Ninun cooper I var. memcanus, BD., BREW., & KIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 231. 



Nisus cooperi, RIDG., Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvi, 1873, 59. BD., BREW.. & RIDG , 

 N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 230. YARROW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1871, Wheeler's 

 Exped., 1S74, 36. HENSHAW, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Kxped., 

 1874, 138. 



An abundant species throughout Eastern Arizona and Western New 

 Mexico. While sitting in my tent one day at Camp Apache, I noticed one 

 of these hawks making repeated attacks upon a raven. It would force the 

 raven to take refuge in a tree, and then fly to some neighboring perch and 

 take its stand. The moment the persecuted raven essayed to move away, 

 the hawk flew out and swooping down upon struck it and again forced it to 

 cover. This was repeated several times, and apparently for no other reason 

 than for the amusement of the hawk ; though, judging from the discontented 

 squawks and cries which the abused raven gave vent to, the pleasure was 

 by no means mutual. So engrossed was the falcon in this sport that it 

 allowed me unnoticed to walk up within a few feet, when my gun settled 

 the dispute. 



Bill bluish-black ; legs and feet yellow. 



ASTURINA NITIDA, Cass., var. PLAGIATA (Schleg.). 

 Mexican Hawk. 



PLATE xv. 



Asturina playiata, SCLEG., Mus. Pays-Bas, Asturinse, 1. COUES, Key N. A. Birds, 

 1872, 218. COOPER, Birds Gal., 1870, 487. RIDG., Am. Nat., vi, July, 

 1872, 430. Id., ib., vii, April, 1873, 203 (Southern Illinois, August). 

 Asturina nitida var. playiata, BD., BREW., & RIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1875, 240, 

 Anturina nitida, CASS., Birds N. A., 1858, 35, pi. C4. BD., U. S. & Mex. Bound. Surv,, 

 ii, pt. ii, 185!), Birds, 4 (Nuevo Leon, Mex.). 



This handsome hawk is more properly a component of the Mexican 

 fauna, and its occurrence within the borders of Arizona goes to show how 

 close is the relationship between the faunas of the extreme southern portion 



