BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 



353 



forehead usually more or less distinctly white, but this sometimes 

 wholly absent; occipital feathers pure white beneath the surface; 

 outer surface of primaries plain black, without the slightest indica- 

 tion of spots or bars. Tail brownish gray, or grayish brown, crossed 

 by about six or seven narrow bands of black, of which the subterminal 



Figure 21. — Buteo (Buteola) brachyurus. 



is much the broadest, the grayish bands becoming gradually narrower 

 toward the base of the tail; under surface of the tail appearing silvery 

 white, with cross bands of slate color. Under surface of the primaries 

 chiefly white anterior to their emargination, but this broken by irreg- 

 ular bars, or, as is sometimes the case, confused mottlings of grayish; 

 rest of under surface of the wing uniform dark brown or black, the 



