FALCONIDxE — THE HAWKS — BUTEO. 



475 



base, edged with reddish ; scapulars and greater wing coverts with large, partly concealed, 

 rufous spots. Under wing coverts jiale reddish-white, with large brown spots ; under tail 

 coverts pale reddish, with a few brown stripes. 



Length, 17.00 to 19.75; extent, 50.00 ; wing, 14.50 to 15.75; tail, 7.50 to 9.00. Iris 

 brown ; bill horn-color and bluish ; feet yellow. 



Hah. Western North America. Canada. 



I found tlii.s .species pretty common near San Diego, in iMarcli, 1SG2, 

 wlien they were af)parently migrating northward. Two wliich I shot agreed 

 closely with Cassin's description, and were very nearly alike. In lial)its 

 they resembled very much the larger sjjecies. 



I afterwards saw a large number of hawks flying over in a scattered flock 

 towards the north. Among them were variously colored specimens which 1 

 saw only at a distance, as they did not come near enough to be shot. 



Bryant considers this merely a variety of B. Su-ainsonii, next described; 

 but as none of that style of coloration have been found on the Pacific slope, 

 I think it as well to consider this for the present as distinct. Butco Bairdii, 

 of Hoy, is, however, the young bird of B. Swninsonii. 



The whole subject of the American buzzard hawks, liowe\-e)-, requires a 

 careful revision, and it is very jirobable that naturalists will ultimately con- 

 clude to accept a much smaller number of species than they do at the 

 present time. 



S. Swainfnnii. Adult. 



