268 HISTORY OF THE 



Young male, second year: Upper parts similar to adult, but a reddish tint ap- 

 preciably washing the edges of the interscapulars and (less noticeably so) the 

 scapulars; bands on tail nearly as in adult; but very near the base in fourth, 

 very narrow and faintly defined pale band, while the bases of all the feathers are 

 much mottled with white; dull rufous of the breast not continuous, but in the 

 form of large longitudinal broad spots, occupying the greater middle portion of 

 each feather; abdomen, sides and tibiae with smaller and more cordate spots of 

 dull rufous; the lower tail coverts immaculate; the decided ochraceous tinge 

 beneath deepest posteriorly. Young, first year: The blackish above is much 

 variegated, being broken by the narrow rusty borders to interscapulars, rump, 

 and lesser wing coverts; the broader and more ochraceous borders to scapulars 

 and greater wing coverts, and partially concealed whitish spotting on the former. 

 Upper tail coverts white, with broad bars of blackish brown; secondaries and 

 primaries edged terminally with whitish; tail dull umber brown, growing darker 

 terminally; narrowly tipped with white, and crossed with six obscure narrow 

 bands of dusky, the (concealed) bases of all the feathers white; superciliary 

 region, cheeks, chin, throat, and entire lower parts, delicate pale ochraceous or 

 whitish cream color; a conspicuous 'mustache', a medial longitudinal series of 

 streaks on the throat, with large, longitudinal ovate spots on sides of breast, 

 cordate spots on sides and flanks, and sagittate spots on tibiae, clear blackish 

 brown; the ochraceous deepest on the abdomen and crissurn; wing beneath as 

 in adult." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 15.00 34.00 10.00 6.50 2.35 .05 .45 



Female... 16.00 35.00 10.50 7.25 2.40 .80 .45 



Iris brown (juv., yellowish brown); bill horn blue, light at 

 base, dark at tips; cere greenish yellow; legs and feet yellow; 

 claws black. 



This species inhabits the woodlands, where they are often to 

 be seen sailing over the tree tops, but seldom far away from 

 their natural haunts. I have occasionally met with the birds in 

 winter in eastern Guatemala, Spanish Honduras, and, during 

 the summer months, in the Neosho valley, Kansas, the Indian 

 Territory, and at Fewaukee, Wisconsin. At the latter place I 

 found them nesting and the most common. In their search for 

 food, they watch from a perch or noiselessly fly through the 

 tree tops and near the ground, often hovering for a moment be- 

 fore dropping upon their prey, which they usually devour on 

 the ground or where taken. I consider these birds to be, like all 

 the Buteo family, friends of the farmer rather than his enemy, 

 because they feed chiefly upon rabbits, squirrels, gophers, mice 

 and moles; they occasionally catch a young bird, but are not quick 



