680 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES — A CCIPITRES. 



Falconina;, eaibmcing numerous species of nearly all parts of the world excepting Australia ; 

 about half of thein American. Tlie type is B. vulfjaris of Europe, to which the North Amer- 

 ican B. swainsoni is closely related. Four of our species {BB. borealis, swainsoni, Uneatus, 

 latissimus) are common '' Hen Hawks " or " Chicken Hawks" of the U. S., the first named 

 running into several varieties ; the others are little known (JBB. hariani, cooperi), or of very 

 partial distribution in North America {BB. sennetti, abbreviatus, brachyurus), or questionable 

 as a straggler from Europe (alleged B. buteo). In all cases, sexes alike or similar; 9 larger 

 than 1^; young different from adults ; and melanism frequent. 



Analysis of Subgenera and Species. 



Tail irfiile, with a broad black subterminal zone and numerous very narrow, zig-zag, or broken, blackish cross- 

 lines. Texas. (Type of subgenus Tachytriorcltis) albocaudatus sennetli 



Four outer primaries emarginate or sinuate on inner webs. 



Tail mostly rufous, ashy-clouded ; marked /engthtvise with darker ; and with dark subterminal zone ; under 

 parts mostly white. Gala., one specimen known ; dubious cooperi f 



Tail mottled with dusky and white, and with subterminal blackish zone ; showing also reddish touches. Plu- 

 mage almost entirely blackish, with fleecy- white bases of feathers. Kas. to Tex., not well known, and status 

 questionable • ... hariani 



Tail of adult chestnut-red, with black subterminal bar, and others or not ; no reddish on wing-coverts ; white 

 prevailing on under parts, especially breast. Tail of young closely barred with grajrish and blackish. Ro- 

 bust and largest ; wing usually t4.00 or more ; tarsus stout. N. Am., common borealis 



Tail of adult black, crossed by about C white bars ; primaries spotted with white ; lesser wing-coverts reddish, 

 like under parts. Tail of youug dusky, numerously barred with whitish ; under parts whitish, streaked with 

 dusky. Less robust ; wing usually under 14.00 ; tarsus slender. N. Am., common Uneatus 



Tail of adult black, with 3 broad white zones on inner webs only of the feathers, ashy on outer webs ; plumage 

 black, spotted or not with white. Tail of young dusky, inner webs mostly white, black-barred. Southwestern 



U. S abbreviatus 



Three outer primaries emarginate or sinuate on iiuier webs. 



Tail numerously and narrowly cross-barred with lighter and darker. Plumage extremely variable, but not exten- 

 sively reddish underneath, nor cheeks with a dark mustache. Large ; wing usually over 13.00. Chiefly west- 

 ern U. S., common swainsoni 



Tail of adult blackish witli about 3 light gray bands exposed ; under parts extensively rufous ; a dark mustache. 

 Small; wing under 12.00. Eastern U. S., common latusinms 



Tall crossed with light and dark bars ; general color of upper parts fuliginous, little varied, frontlet more or 

 leas whitish. Southern U. S brachyurus 



{Subgenus Tachytriorchis.) 



B. albocauda'tus sen'netti. (Lat. albu-s, white; cauclatus, tailed. To Geo. B. Sennett.) 

 White-tailed Buzzard. Sennett's Buzzard. Three outer primaries cut on inner webs. 

 Wings very acute; tail short. Adult ^^: Tail and its coverts white, with a broad black 

 subteruiinal zcnie, and nunjerous very fine zig-zag or broken blackish cross-lines. Upper 

 parts (excepting rump, which is white like tail), definitely including sides of head and neck, 

 ash-color or plumbeous, lighter or darker in diff'(n-ent cases, the feathers fleecy-white at bases 

 so extensively as to show with the least disturbance of the plumage, and on scapulars tinged 

 with reddish. Most of the lesser wing-coverts (but not quite to bend of wing), chestnut, some- 

 what as in Harris' Buzzard. Entire under parts pure white, lightly touched with fine dusky 

 cross-bars on sides, lining of wings, and usually tibiae. On surface of wings plumbeous of 

 upper parts deepens to blackish of primaries, whftse inner Avebs are lighter and more brownish, 

 crossed with numerous darker bars, and toward base are cut, barred, or speckled with white, 

 which increases in regularity, firmness, and extent on secondaries. Shafts of wing-feathers 

 brown or black, those of tail white along wliite portion of the feathers. Bill mostly dark, in 

 part light; feet yellow; claws black. Length of $ 23.00; extent 48.00; wing 16.00; tail 

 7.00; chord of culmen, including cere, 1.40; tarsus about 3.2.5; feathered about 1.00 down in 

 front. 9 larger: length 24.00; extent 54.00; wing 17..50; tail 8.00, etc. (Described from 

 Sennett's and Merrill's Texas specimens.) Young: much darker than the adults; general 

 plumage blackish brown, on the under parts much varied with white and buff; but recogniz- 



