298 BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



176. Gkmcidhan infuscaium var. gnoma Wagl. 

 Mazatlan, Gi^ayson ; Colima, Xautus. 



177. Syrnmm vlrcjahim Cass. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson ; Colima, Xantus. 



178. Strix flammea vix\\ prailncola Bp. 



" 2Jratiiicola Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv, p. 270. 

 Tres Marias, Grayson ; Colima, Ameria River, Xantus. 



"This species is common all over Mexico ; I tliscovered a nest in the hollow of a tree on the Rio Mazatlan." 



Fam. Falconid^. 



179. CircKS cyaneus var. Jmdsonms (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



180. Accipiter fuscus (Gm.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" This well-known and widely distributed species is very common in Western Mexico, where I have found 

 them in all seasons of the year, and in ditferent stages of iilumage. One day I witnessed an act of this hawk 

 which goes far to illustrate its habits of perseverance in hunting out the game it may be in quest of; a brood 

 of half grown chickens was attacked by it, one of which had t.aken shelter beneath the- bottom rail of a 

 fence ; there was barely room between the rail and the ground to admit the fowl ; the little hawk, after perch- 

 in"- for a few moments on the top of the fence, lit upon the ground, and actually reached its slender claws 

 under the rail, dragged the unfortunate chicken from its hiding jjlace, carried it off a hundred yards 

 to the bottom of a dry creek, where I fulloweil it up and recovered the chicken, with whicli he was unable to 

 rise above the bank of the creek. Field mice also constitute a part of its subsistence, but to quails and 

 young chickens he seems to give a decided prefeience. I have never been able to find the nest of this hawk, 

 though I am well convinced it breeds in this region." 



181. Accipiter cooperi Bp. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" Like the Sharp-shinned Hawk, and one or two others of a closely allied species, it has the habit of flying 

 very swiftly near the ground when hunting for its prey, as if to come upon it suddenly without being seen ; 

 when thus upon its tour of rapine, the birds lay close under cover, well knowing the brave and desperate 

 spirit of this keen little hawk. At last he surprises a flock of quail, his fiivorite game; onward he dashes 

 among them; the aftrighted birds are so confused and panic-stricken, as scarcely to know which course to flee; 

 they scramble in every direction, but the reckless hunter in an instant has selected one, and furiously dashes 

 headlong amidst the brambles and grass in which the unfortunate game endeavors to make its escape, but too 

 late — the crying and plaintive notes of the poor quail are heard ; he has seized it in his powerful and sharp 

 claws, and immediately bears it oft^ flying near the ground, until he finds some secluded spot beneath a canopy 

 of bushes and vines, where either upon a prostrate log or on the ground, it devours its prey at leisure. 



"I have found this hawk not uucominon in the locality of Mazatlan during the winter months." 



182. Asturina plagiata (Liclit.). 



" " Finscli, Abh. nat. Ver. zn Bremen, 1S70, p. 325. 



Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"I have met with tliis liawk in all of Western Mexico wherever my rambles have led me, fi-om Tehuantepec 

 to Sinaloa. It is rather sluggish in its habits, sitting for hours upon the limb of some decayed tree iu appar- 

 ent listlessness, permitting you to approach very near without moving from his perch, then flying but a short 



