324 Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 



AcciPiTER. Fuscus (Gmelin). Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



This bird came under my notice nowhere further south and 

 west than San Antonio, at which place it is common, and where 

 I shot several at diflferent times. It remains near there during 

 the breeding- season, and probably breeds in the dense cedar- 

 thickets towards the hill-ranges. 



BuTEO SWAINSONI, Bouaparte. Swainson^s Buzzard. 



I procured one specimen in immature plumage between San 

 Antonio and the Medina River, on the 9th of April 3864. 



I was on my way to spend Sunday at Howard's Rancho ; and 

 noticing several dark- coloured Hawks at some distance from the 

 path, I rode towards them to see what they were, and just suc- 

 ceeded in getting a snap-shot from the saddle at this bird. Un- 

 luckily I was mounted on a half-broken mustang, who, to judge 

 from the capers he cut, had never before heard a gun discharged 

 so close to him ; and before I could get him sufficiently quieted 

 down to allow me to dismount, the other Hawks had made good 

 their retreat, and I did not see them again. Two others were 

 close to me when I fired, which, so far as I could see, were Har- 

 lan's Hawks, as they lacked the rufous colouring on the shoulders 

 and the white band on the tail. 



Male. Beak horn-blue ; cere yellow ; legs light yellow ; iris 

 dark brown. 



BuTEO HARLANi (Audubon). Harlan's Buzzard. 



I noticed this bird on several occasions, but was not fortunate 

 enough to shoot one. I have one specimen shot by a lad on the 

 Medina River. A man living near there, a good sportsman and 

 careful observer, told me that he had several times found nests 

 of this bird -, and Dr. Heermann took the eggs there some years 

 ago. 



BuTEO BOREALis (Gmelin). Red-tailed Buzzard. 



Common throughout all Texas at all seasons of the year, 

 breeding in all parts, preferring, however, the heavily-timbered 

 country. I procured the eggs from Systerdale and also from 

 the Medina River. 



I shot several very large specimens of this bird, which approach 

 very nearly Professor Baird's description of B. montanus; still 



