12 ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL 



Mr. Ridgway recognizes the following races of S. Jlammea (N.-Am. B. 

 iii. p. 11): — 



ct. jlammea. Hab. Europe and Mediterranean region of Africa. Wing 10-70-12"00j tail 4-80-5-50^ 

 eulmen 0-75-0-80, tarsus 2-05-2*15, middle toe 1-25-1-30. Tail with four dark bands, and 

 sometimes a trace of a fifth. 



/3. pratincola, Hab. Southern North America and Mexico. Colours lighter than in S. Jlammea. 

 Wing 12-50-14-00, tail 5-70-7-50, eulmen 0-90-1-00, tarsus 2-55-3-00. Tail with four dark 

 bands, and sometimes the trace of a fifth. 



7. guatemalce. Hab. Central America, from Panama to Guatemala. Wing 11*30-13'00, tail 

 5-30-5*90, tarsus 2*55-2*95. Colours offlammea, but more uniform above and more coarsely 

 speckled below. 



S. perlata, Hab. South America (Brazil &c.). Tail more even and lighter coloured ; the dark bars 

 narrower and more sharply defined. Colours generally paler and more greyish. Wing 

 11-70-12-00, tail 4-80-5*20, tarsus 2-40-2-75. 



e. furcata. Hab. West Indies (Cuba and Jamaica). Colours as in perlata, but secondaries and 

 tail nearly white, in abrupt contrast to the adjacent parts. Tail usually without bars. Wing 

 12*00-13-50, tail 5-60-6-00, eulmen 0-85-0-95, tarsus 2-70-2-85, middle toe 1-45-1-60. 



?. delicatula. Hab. Australia. Colours of pratincola, but less of the ochraceous and with a greater 

 prevalence of the grey mottling. Tail with four dark bands. Wing 11-00, tail 5-00, eulmen 

 about 0-85, tarsus 2-05-2*45, middle toe 1*30-1*40. 



r). javanica. Hab. India and Eastern Africa. Same colours as in delicatula. Tail with four dark 

 bands (sometimes a trace of a fifth). Wing 11*00-11*70, tail 5*10-5*40, eulmen 0*85-0*90, 

 tarsus 2-30-2-45, middle toe 1-35-1*45. 



It is principally with a view to show the variation in the characters 

 mentioned by Mr. Ridgway, whose essays on the Accipitres are always 

 characterized by the most painstaking labour, which makes me devote 

 to them very full consideration and study, that I have been induced to go 

 so minutely into the details of the specimens which have come under my 

 notice. The following is a summary of the chief measurements of the 

 specimens examined from various countries : — 



