266 HISTORY OF THE 



regions; south through the greater part of South America to. 



Argentine Kepublic. 



Sp. Chak. Ouly three quills with inner webs distinctly emarginated. Tail 

 grayish brown, or brownish gray, sometimes with a hoary tinge, crossed by an 

 indefinite number (about nine or ten) of narrow dusky bands, which toward base 

 of tail become gradually indistinct and finally obsolete. Adult male, normal 

 plumage: Above, nearly xmiform grayish brown; forehead, chin and throat 

 white, usually aln'iiptly defined, and forming a distinct patch; chest and upper 

 part of breast usually plain rufous or cinnamon (rarely mixed or broken with 

 whitish); rest of lower parts buffy whitish, sometimes immaculate, but usually 

 more or less barred or spotted with brownish. Adult female, normal plumage: 

 Similar to the male, but chest patch grayish brown instead of rufous or cinna- 

 mon. 3felanistie phase, both sexes: Whole plumage uniform sooty brown, the 

 under tail coverts sometimes spotted or barred with rusty or whitish.* Young: 

 Tail as in the adult; above, blackish brown, varied with buffy or ochraceous; head, 

 neck and lower parts creamy buff (deeper on younger, paler in older individ- 

 uals), the lower parts usually more or less spotted with blackish, the head and 

 neck streaked with the same. {Ridgway.) 



Iris brown; bill and claws black; cere, legs and feet greenish 

 yellow. 



This is one of the most common and harmless of the genus 

 Buteo upon our western prairies. They seldom venture near 

 the habitations of man, appearing to prefer the uncultivated 

 fields, and are at home upon the wild prairies and plains, where 

 they put in a large share of their time perched upon a slight 

 elevation patiently watching for rabbits, gophers, mice, lizards, 

 young birds, etc., or in the air coursing over the prairies, filling 

 up as they go with the grasshoppers that take their afternoon 

 airing. Occasionally a full-grown bird is taken by surprise, but 

 they are not swift enough to catch in the chase. I have on 

 several occasions seen them swoop down for a Meadowlark, 

 but each time the frightened bird escaped. Their manner of 

 flight is similar to the Red-tailed, and, although a more slender 

 bird, do not seem to be quicker in actions. 



Their nests vary in height, from the shrubby bushes of the 

 plains to the high trees in the timber; a bulky nest, constructed 



*Iii different individuals may be seen every possible intermediate condition of plumage be- 

 tween this complete melanism and the light colored normal plumage described above. 



