TEMPERATE AMERICA. > 



Mexico. Our information on the quadrupeds of this 

 range is particularly defective : a circumstance more 

 to be regretted, from the accurate information we have 

 been able to give on the northern animals. 



(89.) The ornithology of temperate America pos- 

 sesses many peculiarities. After passing the confines of 

 the more northern regions, we meet with numerous 

 land-birds belonging to species, and even to genera, 

 peculiar to the New World. Our observations upon 

 these tribes will be arranged under the heads of the 

 Rapacious, Perching, Gallinaceous, and Aquatic orders. 

 The Rapacious birds of all countries enjoy the widest 

 range of those inhabiting the land. Hence we find that 

 few species occur in the warmer provinces of America 

 which do not inhabit, either permanently or occasionally, 

 the Arctic latitudes visited by Dr. Richardson. This 

 will be apparent by the following list, selected from the 

 last, which comprises such species of the vulture and 

 falcon family ( Vulturidce, Falconidce) as are spread over 

 the greater part of North America. 



Cathartes Aura. . . . Turkey Vulture. 



atratus . . . Black Vulture. 



Falco sparverius . . . Little Rusty -crowned Falcon. 



columbarius. . . Pigeon Hawk. 



Accipiter Pennsylvanicus Slate-coloured Hawk. 

 Buteo borealis .... Red-tailed Buzzard. 

 Strix Virginiana . . . American Horned Owl. 

 Strix Acadica Wilson . . Little American Owl. 



These, with about five additional species of falcons (Fal- 

 conidce), complete the list of North American rapacious 

 birds. 



(90.) The distribution of the perchers, as usual, is 

 much more limited. Numerous families of insectivo- 

 rous birds, unknown in the temperate latitudes of the 

 Old World, or even in the equinoctial regions of the 

 New, spread themselves over the fruitful portions of 

 the Union, either as permanent residents, or as annual 

 migrators from the more genial shores of the Mexican 



