THE ZONE-TAILED HAWK. 229 



and southwestern Tex-as, through southern New Mexico, and central and south- 

 ern Arizona. It probably breeds occasionally in southern California, where 

 Dr. J. G. Cooper obtained the first specimen taken within the limits of the 

 United States. It was shot 30 miles north of San Diego and 5 miles from 

 the coast, on February 23, 1862. 



It has been noted by Mr. L. Belding at the Cape St. Lucas region of 

 Lower California; and Mr. A. W. Anthony writes me that he found it not 

 uncommon on the San Pedro Martir Mountains in latitude 31, at an eleva- 

 tion of about 7,000 feet. Two pairs of these birds were seen by him on 

 April 24, both nesting in tall pines. He states: "The birds were greatly 

 worried at our presence, flying about overhead and constantly uttering a 

 . loud querulous cry, not unlike that of Buteo borealis. One of the nests, exam- 

 ined from the ground, was rather a bulky affair of sticks, and placed in the 

 very top of a pine about 70 feet up. Several shots from our rifles failed to 

 drive the birds away. Shortly afterward a second pair were seen, and one 

 of these was secured." 



They are a common Mexican and Central American bird, and only sum- 

 mer visitors with us. 



The first description of the supposed nest and eggs of the Zone-tailed 

 Hawk, published in any of our ornithological papers, is that of Mr. William 

 Brewster in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club (Vol. iv, April, 

 1879, p. 80), from specimens collected by Mr. William H. Werner in Comal 

 County, Texas, on May 17, 1878. Mr. Brewster, in speaking of this find, 

 says: "The nest, a large bulky structure, composed of coarse sticks, with rather 

 a smooth lining of Spanish moss, was built in a cypress tree on the bank of 

 the Guadalupe River. It was placed on a large and nearly horizontal 

 branch, about 15 feet out from the main stem, and at least 40 feet above 

 the ground. It measured as follows: External diameter 20 inches; external 

 depth G inches; internal diameter 7 inches; internal depth 4 inches. The 

 two eggs which it contained were slightly incubated. One is still preserved 

 with the nest, the other is in Mr. Ricksecker's collection. The latter meas- 

 ures 2.09 by 1.55 inches (about 53.1 by 39.4 millimetres). It is marked with 

 blotches of reddish brown upon a dull white ground. These blotches occur 

 most thickly about the larger end, where they tend to form a nearly con- 

 fluent ring. In Mr. Werner's specimen, which is similar in color, the markings 

 are most numerous around the smaller extremity. Its dimensions are 2.06 

 by 1.53 inches (about 52.3 by 38.9 millimetres). Although the parent birds 

 belonging to this nest successfully eluded all attempts at capture, their iden- 

 tity can scarcely be doubted. As Mr. Werner was climbing to their eyrie, 

 they swept down about his head, repeatedly passing within a few feet of him. 

 As but a few days previously he had shot the specimen above referred to 

 [which is quoted in the beginning of this article and not copied by me] 

 it is not likely that he could have mistaken a species so distinctly marked." 



