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. Mearns usually found the anthracite or Mexican 

 black hawk hidden in the foliai^e 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 swift and powerful. 



GENUS ASTURINA. 



346. Asturina plagiata Schlegel. Mexican Goshawk. 



Proportions of 2? u^(?t» but coloration oi 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 with Jive blackish shaft streaks ; wing quills 

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

 by 2 or o 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 cro.ssed by (> 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 with 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 fretiuents open groves and the edges of 

 timber, especially near watercourses. 



Near Tucson, Arizona, jNIajor 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 readily recognized by their light color) 

 engaged in sailing gracefully over the treetops. now sportively chas- 

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

 by the male, uttering at the same time a very peculiar j^iping 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 llute-like about 

 these notes. . . . AVhen 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 llight without any stop whtitever." 



