486 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES. 



There is good reason to believe that this is only a more perfect plumage, 

 or variety of A. lagopus, but it is rare, and I have seen only one, obtained 

 by Mr. Lorquin at San Francisco. 



■ Genus ASTURINA, Vieillot. 



Astunna, Vieillot, Analyse, 181C, 24. (Type, Fako nitldus, Lath.) 



Gen. Char. Smallei- than in the preceding two genera. General form compact, and 

 adapted to greater activity of habits and swifter fliglit. Bill rather thick, strong ; cere 

 lar^e, extending somewhat into the feathers of the forehead ; wings moderate, third and 

 fourth quills longest ; tail rather long ; legs rather long ; claws strong, fully curved. This 

 genus contains a lew species, all of which are South American. 



Asturina nitida, L.^tiiam. 



THE GEAY HAWK. 



Fako niticlus, Latham, Ind. Orn. I. 41 . — Asturina nituhi, Bon-aparte, Consp. Av. 1850, 30. 



— Cassis, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1S58, 35 ; pi. C4. 

 Astunna cvierea, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816, 68. — Owen, Ibis, 18G1, 69 (ogg). 

 Astur slriolatus, Cdvier, Reg. An. I, 332. 

 Asturina phifiata, Sciilegel, Rev. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862. 

 Figures. Tcmm. PI. Col. 87, 294 ; Vieillot, Gal. I. pi. 20. 



Sp. Char. Adult. Upper parts light cinereous; darker, and sometimes nearly 

 black on the rump ; upper tail coverts white ; cjuills ashy-brown, with obscure dark bands. 



