GERAXOSPIZIAS. — ASTUR. 225 



slate-colour ; tail black, white at tlie base and crossed by two 

 buffj- white bands, the feathers pale at the tips ; under wing- 

 coverts more or less barred with white. 



Total length 400 mm., culmen 24, Aving 275, tail 195, tarsus 70, 

 middle toe and claw 49. 



The description of the female is taken from an example obtained 

 at the Takutu Mountains. 



Adult male. Similar to the adult female but smaller. AVing 

 256 mm. 



The description of the male is taken from an example in the 

 British Museum collected by Wbitely on the Rupununi River on 

 the 24th of M.irch, 1890 — Salvin-Godman collection. 



Breeding-season. Unknown in British Guiana. 



Sest. Unrecorded in British Guiana. 



J^gfis. Undescribed from British Guiana. 



liange in British Guiana. Takutu Mountains [McConnell 

 collection^. 



Bd'tralimitul Range. Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Ar- 

 gentina. 



Habits. According to Schomburgk (Reis. Guiiin. iii.p. 737) this 

 bird is found un tlie coast and inland as well. Xear the coast it 

 occurs mostly in coffee-plantations, where it prefers the Erythrinon- 

 trees. It has not the same habits as most other Falcons, which 

 perch on the outermost branches, but skulks about amongst the 

 branches of the last-named trees. Its food consists of small birds 

 and reptiles. He did not find its nest. The "Macusis" call it 



^foJd. 



Mr. J. J. Quelch (Timehri (2) vi. p. 142) remarks on this species 

 as follows: — " The Blue f>[)avrow'-Ha\\k (Geranospizias gracilis). 

 This bird is not connnonly found on the coast, but occurs along 

 the wooded creeks, where it will be met with perching on the 

 sheltered branches in the more open places."' 



Genus ASTUR Laccp. 



Astur Lacepede, Tableau Oiseaux, p. 4, 1799. Type A. pahunlarivs 

 (Linn.). 



The members of this genus are diagnosed as lia\ ing the outer 

 toe about equal in length to the inner toc^ without claw, and the 

 nostrils oval \\ithout a bony tiiltcrch'. 



Q 



