686 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES — ACCIPITRES. 



markings, and more pronounced spotting of wings on outer webs of primaries. Eastern N. Am., 

 one of the commonest Hawks of the U. S.. especially in winter, when it has retired from the 

 extreme of its range in the adjoining British Provinces and along our nortliern border; S. into 

 Mexico ; breeds throughout range, from March to May, according to latitude ; food, general 

 habits, and nidification similar to those of B. horealis; eggs 2-6, oftenest 3, next oftenest 4, 

 next 2, rarely .5, most rarely 6, averaging in size 2.25 X 1-70, ranging from 2.05 to 2.35 in 

 length, and in breadth from 1.65 to 1.85 ; they have the usual wide variation in markings, and 

 are indistinguishable on the whole from those of horealis, though averaging smaller and more 

 heavily marked. 



B. 1. al'leni. (To Dr. J. A. Allen.) Florida Red-shouldered Buzzard. As^tated 

 above, and in the Key, 2d ed. 1884, p. 546, there is much variation in size, Florida and Gulf 

 specimens, and generally those from the S. Atlantic States, being very small. Such examples, 

 having the ^ wing 12..50 or less, tail 8.00 or )esr, etc., have received the above name. Breeds 

 early ; eggs laid in February and March, averaging 2.00 X 1-67. EiDCiw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

 vii, Jan. 1885, p. 514, and Man. 1887, p. 235; CouES, Key, 3d and 4th eds. 1887-90, p. 882 ; 



A. 0. U. Lists, 1886 and 1895, No. 339 a. 



B. 1. e'legans. (Lat. elegans, choice.) Western Red-shouldered Buzzard. Red- 

 bellied or Red-breasted Hawk. The erythrism oflineatus. In extreme case, whole under 

 plumage rich dark reddish, almost obliterating the usual markings ; wings and tail, however, 

 still elegantly barred with white. Rocky Mts. to Pacific, British Columbia to N. Mexico; best 

 developed in coast region ; no appreciable difterence from Uneatus proper in habits, nest, or eggs. 

 B. abbrevia'tus. (Lat. ahbreviatus, shortened.) Band-tailed Buzzard. Zone-tailed 

 Hawk. Adult ^ 9 • Coal-black, glossy and uniform over whole body. Tail black ; viewed 

 above, it seems to be crossed with 3 zones of ashy-gray or slate-color, increasing in width and 

 firmness from proximal to distal one, and is narrowly tipped with white ; from below, there 

 appear 3 pure white zones, since the ashy is on outer webs only of the feathers (both webs of 

 middle pair, however), and the white is on inner webs. Plumage of head snowy-white at the 

 roots, and in some specimens, probably less mature, it is so extensive on head, neck, and 

 breast as to appear in spots on the least disturbance of the feathers. The wing-feathers appear 

 quite black in the fcdded wing, but their inner webs basally acquire the usual light and dark 

 spacing, with more or less whitish nebulation, or white areation. The feet appear to be yel- 

 low, bill mostly dark. Young recognizably similar; but tail more numerously and less regu- 

 larly banded, and the inner webs of the feathers mostly white. Length of (J 18.50-19.50; 

 extent 47.50; wing 1.5.00-16.00; tail 8.50-9.00 ; tarsus 2.50 ; middle toe without claw 1.60. 

 9 larger: Length about 21.00 ; extent 53.00; wing 16..50-17.50 ; tail 9.50-10.00 ; tarsus 2.75. 

 A peculiar Hawk, very unlike any other of the U. S., slightly built with long wings and tail; 

 it is one of the " light weights," yet has 4 priinai-ies cut on the inner webs. South and Central 

 America through Mexico to the U. S. border from Texas through New Mexico and Arizona to 

 southern and Lower California, being usually observed as a summer visitor ; first found within 

 our limits by Dr. J. G. Cooper, in southern California, Feb. 23, 1862, next by myself on the 

 Hassayampa River in Arizona, Sept. 24, 1864. Habits and food not peculiar ; nest bulky and 

 coarse, in a tree, often a cottonwood ; eggs 1-3, about 2.17 X 1-72, faintly bluish- white, 

 normally unmarked, occasionally spotted. (B. zonocercus ScL. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 130; Tr. Z. S. 

 1858, p. 263, pi. 59; Elliot, B. N. A. 1869, pi. 33; Coop. B. Cal. 1870, p. 479; Coues, 

 Key, orig. ed. 1872, p. 217 ; Ridgw. Hist. N. A. B. iii, 1874, p. 272. B. alhonotatus Gray, 

 1844. B. abhreviutus Cab. 1848; Coues, Key, 2d-4th eds. 1884-90, p. 546; Ridgw. Man. 

 1887, p. 234; A. O. U. Lists, J886 and 1895, No. 340.) 



B. swain'soni. (To Wm. Swainson.) CoMMON American Buzzard. Sw^ainson's Buz- 

 zard. A light-weight Hawk, with only 3 primaries cut — not 4, as in the foregoing species of 

 Buteo. Adult ^ 9 '• Upper parts dark brown, very variable in shade according to season or wear 



