BIRDS - BUTEONINAE — ASIURINA KITIDA. 

 List of specimens. 



35 



ASTURINA, Vieill. 



Aslurina, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 24, (1816.) 



Size. — Smaller than in the precedhig two genera. General form compact, and adapted to greater activity of habits and 

 swifter flight. Bill rather thick, strong ; cere large, extending somewliat 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 few 

 species, all of which are South American. 



ASTURINA NITIDA, Latham. 



Falco nitidus, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 41. 



Aslurina cintrea, ViEiLi,. Anal., p. 68, (1816.) 



^slur slrioltttus, Cuv. Reg. An. I, 333. 



Figures.— Temm. PI, Col. 87, 294 ; Vieilh Gal. I, pl.2 . 



Jidiitt. — Upper parts light cinereous ; darker, and sometimes nearly black on the rump ; upper tail coverts white ; quills ashy 

 brown, with obscure dark bands, and widely edged with while on their inner webs ; tail brownish black, with about three 

 transverse bands of white. Under parts witli numerous narrow transverse bands of cinereous and white, the former predomi- 

 nating and darker on the breast ; under tail coverts white ; cere and legs yellow. 



Young. — Entire upper parts umber brown ; darker on the rump, and much mi.\ed with white on the head ; upper tail coverts 

 white; tail light brown, with about eight bands of brownish black. Under parts while, with longitudinal stripes of umber 

 brown ; under wing and tail coverts while ; cere and legs yellow. 



Total length, female, about 18 inches ; wing 10, tail 7; inches. Male smaller. 



Hub. — Northern Mexico and Soulh America. 



This handsome hawk was found in the State of New Leon, one of the most northern provinces 

 of Mexico, by Lieutenant D. N. Couch, United States army, and very probably extends its range 

 northward into the territory of the United States. It is a well known species of South America. 



lAst of specimens. 



