1 66 



Ridgway o?i Buteo harlani and B. cooperi. 



[April 



cous color of the outer surface of the primaries, are wanting, 

 and the type of the last-named bird, therefore, remains unique in 

 respect to at least the last mentioned of these two characters. 



The following measurements of B. cooperi and two light col- 

 ored examples of B. harlani will show the differences in the 

 measurements of the tarsi : — 



* Type. No. S525, U. S. Nat. Mus., Santa Clara, Cal. 

 f No. 99,969, Gainesville, Texas. 



t Coll. C. E. Aiken, Colorado Springs. This specimen has been previously referred to 

 by me as B. cooperi. 



For reasons which are explained in the paper referred to, I am 

 unable to give a description of the Colorado specimen ; but my 

 recollection is that it differed materially from the type of B. 

 cooperi in the color of the primaries, and that there was some 

 difference in the color of the tail ; in other words, that as to the 

 former character it was decidedly more like the Texas speci- 

 men. The latter differs from the type of B. cooperi in the follow- 

 ing particulars : — 



B. cooperi. Outer surface of primaries hoary plumbeous, with a glau- 

 cous cast, the shafts dusky, in strong contrast. Upper surface of tail with 

 rufous and grayish prevailing (the former in excess of the latter), all the 

 feathers irregularly and confusedly dashed longitudinally with dusky; 

 about .60 of an inc.'j from the tip (measured on middle rectrices) the tail 

 crossed by a broad but broken band of dusky, this succeeded by rufous, 

 the tip white; dark markings across abdomen narrowly lanceolate. 

 Under surface of tail showing distinct but much broken subterminal 

 dusky band. 



B. harlani. Outer surface of primaries dull brownish slate, finely 

 mottled, more or less, with lighter and darker, the shafts brownish white 

 (more dusky terminally). Upper surface of tail white, the edges of the 

 feathers confusedly mottled with brownish gray, the color somewhat in- 

 tensified in the region of the usual subterminal band; dark markings 

 across abdomen broadly guttate. Under surface of tail uniform white. 



From the material which I have thus far been able to examine, 

 I am. on account of the above-mentioned facts, not quite prepared 

 to relinquish the claims of B. cooperi as a distinct species, 

 although still of the opinion that additional specimens would 

 probably break down the characters on which it at present stands. 



