2G8 NORTH AMERICAN- JUUD.S. 



The present form is very nearly related to the true B. siniiutioiii, iiml, 

 though distiuguisliiiMe, we liuil il ditlicult to express points of absolute dif- 

 fereiiee. The essential distinctions, liowever, are the longer priniarii's and 

 lighter colors of the present bird, tliere being in the immature iilumage of 

 uj'i/ji/n'i(s no approach to tiie deep, hue ocliraccous, the characteristic and 

 pr(!valent tint of the young JJ. sirKiitwni. The spots beneath are more 

 sparse, ami there does not ajiiiear to be that tendency to tiieir aggregation 

 on the sides of the l)reast as generally seen in titmiHtioni. 



Both agree, however, — and dill'er from all other species, — in the uniiarred 

 slate-color of the under surface of ])rimaries, the plain lilack of the outer 

 surface, eonsi)icuous " nnistaclie," obscurely barred gray tail, etc. In fact, 

 the general pattern is almost exactly tlie same, while there is little dilfer- 

 ence in relative projwrtions. 



In view of the very a])pre'jial)le, though rather indelinile, dill'erences 

 above indicated, and the obscure liistiiry tif the [iresent liird, we pivfer, at 

 least until more familiar with its different stages, to recogni/e it under tiie 

 al)ove name. 



A third si»ecimcn, fmni ISueiios Ayres (Conchitas ; William II. Htulson), 

 — exactly siniihu', in all particulars, to tlie two s[>eeimens described, — was 

 labelled by ^Nlr. Sclater, JJ. ulhicaiulniK.-i, N'ieill., which is usually placed as a 

 synonyme under // ptcrurln^, an exclusively Sunt! American species ; though 

 belonging strictly to the same section of the geiuis with the [U'csent bird and 

 B. tiicduisoiii, it is ([uite ilistinct, tlu^ Smiliisonian Collection containing 

 numerous examples illu.strating the several stages of plumage. 



lI.viUTs. Taking the two varieties togetlier, this .species appears to range 

 over the entire continent of America, from tiie Arctic regions to the cold-tem- 

 perate portion of South America. In Arctic America it apjiears to have a 

 western distribution, though extending far to the north during the breeiliiig- 

 season, and being more or less nomadic during the winter. A single well- 

 marked si>ecimen was taken by Jlr. I'rewster, in tlie winter of 1S71 -72, in tlie 

 eastern part of ^las.saeiiusetts. It was Ijist noliied liy Pr. Uichard.^on, and 

 was by him suppo.si'd to be identical with the coiinnon I'u/x.ard of Murojie. 

 It was met with in the fur country, where it was migratory, arriving there 

 early in Aitril, and departing again aliout the end of September. It freipientcd 

 tlie low alluvial points of land wliich .stretch out luider the higii banks 

 of rivers, where it miglit lie oli.served sitting for a h)ng while motionless on 

 the bough of a tree, waiting patiently for some smidl birds or (piadrupeds to 

 jiass witiiin its reach. As .soon as it jierceived anything of the kind, it would 

 glide silently into the air and sweep easily but rajiidly down ujion its prey. 

 One of Dr. Ilichardsou's specimens was found to have two whole toads in its 

 stomach. 



Dr. Kichardson states that this I.uzzanl builds its nest on a tree, of short 

 sticks, lining it sparingly with deer's hair. Tiie eggs, froui three to live in 

 number, are described as e(pialling in size those of the domestic fowl, and 



