462 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Astur; third to fourth quill longest; first shorter than eighth or ninth; four outer quills 

 with their inner webs sinuated; tail considerably shorter than the wing, slightly emar- 

 ginated, the lateral pair of feathers longest. Feet large and robust, when outstretched 

 reaching almost to the end of the tail; tarsi very robust compared to the toes, about one 

 and a half times as long as the middle toe, the frontal and posterior rows of transverse 

 scutellae very distinct and regular; outer toe longer than inner; claws strong, well 

 curved, but not very acute. Sexes alike in color ; old and young plumages very different. 

 This genus is peculiar to tropical America, and contains but two species, the A. 

 nitida (LATH.) of South America and A. plagiata (LiCHT.) of Middle America. 



This genus Asturina is closely related to Leucopternis KAUP, but differs as follows: 

 Asturina. First quill longer than tenth. Tail even or emarginate, the lateral pair of 

 rectrices usually longest. Nostril decidedly horizontal. Young and adult ex- 

 ceedingly different in plumage. 



Leucopternis. First quill shorter than tenth. Tail slightly rounded, the lateral pair of 

 feathers shortest Nostril nearly circular, rather vertical than horizontal. Young 

 and adult scarcely differing in plumage. 



Asturina nitida plagiata (Licht.) 



MEXICAN GOSHAWK. 



Buteo plagiatus LIGHT. Nomencl. 1854. 3. 



Asturina plagiata SCHLEG. Mus. P. B. Asturinae, 1862, 1. SCL. & SALT. Ex. Orn. 1869, 

 179, pi. 90. COUES, Key, 1872, 218; Check List. 1874. No. 358; 2ded. 1882. No. SZTTplagata") 

 Asturina nitida var. plagiata RIDGW. 1873. B. B. & E. Hist, N. Am. B. iii.1874. 246. 

 Asturina nitida plagiata BIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 445. 

 Asturina nitida CASS. in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858. 35 (not Falco nitidus LATH.). BAIED, 



Cat. N. Am. B. 1859. No. 33. 



HAB. Whole of Middle America, south to Panama, north to southwestern border of 

 United States; accidental (?) in southern Illinois (Richland Co., cf. RID GW. Am. Nat. 

 July 1872, p. 430). 



SP. CHAB. Adult male (No. 51,343, Mazatlan, Mexico: Ferd. Bischoff). Above deep 

 (rather dark) cinereous, becoming paler and finer on the head above, where the feathers 

 have the shafts (finely) black; wings with indistinct lighter bars; rump almost black. 

 Upper tail-coverts immaculate pure white. Tail pure black, tipped with pale grayish 

 brown (this passing terminally into white); about 1^ inches from the tip is a continuous 

 band of white, half an inch in width ; and a little over an inch anterior to this is another 

 narrower and less perfect one. Primaries approaching black at ends; the tips broadly 

 edged with dull white, as also the ends of secondaries. Head uniform fine delicate 

 ashy, becoming white on chin and throat, and approaching the same on the forehead; 

 shafts of feathers on head above, and neck, black; neck with indistinct paler transverse 

 bars, these most distinct on jugulum; the breast, abdomen, sides, flanks, axillars, and 

 tibize are regularly barred transversely with cinereous and pure white, the bars of each 

 about equal, the white, however, gradually increasing, and the ashy bars narrowing 

 posteriorly, the tibiae being finely barred; lower tail-coverts immaculate pure white. 

 Lining of the wing white, with very sparse, faint, transverse zigzag bars next the axil- 

 lars and on larger coverts; under surface of primaries white anterior to their emargina- 

 tion, beyond which they are more silvery, leaving about an inch of the terminal portion 

 black, the end of each, however, ashy; outer two quills crossed by narrow bars of ashy, 

 the rest with indications of the same, near the shaft. Fourth quill longest: third scarcely 

 shorter; second shorter than fifth; first intermediate between eighth and ninth. "Length 

 16.00; extent.38.00." Wing.10.50; tail.7.00; tarsus.2.60; middle toe.1.60. 



