Flate XVIII. 



ACCIPITER CASTANILIUS. 



(CHESNUT-SIDED SPAEEOW-HAWK). 



Accipiter castanilms . .. . Bp. Eev. Zool., 1853, p. 578; Compt. Eend. xxxvii. p. 810, et Notes Orn. p. 5. 

 „ „ ... Sclater, P.Z.S. 1866, p. 304. 



Fusco-ardesiacus, capite cervice et colli lateribus paul6 dilutioribus : stibtiis albua, cinereo regiilariter transfas- 

 ciatus, fasciis pectoris et ventria latioribus et castaneo marginatis, lateribus totis cum tibiia intense castaneis : remigibua 

 subtus albido late transfasciatis, subalaribus albis fusco maculatis : rectricibus supra nigricantibus, maculis fascialibua 

 in pogonio interne et apice extremo candidis, subtus griseis, nigricante fa'sciatis, extima utrinque una supri fusca, 

 subtus grisea unicolore : rostro nigro ; cera cum pedibus flavis, unguibus nigris : long, tota 14!'5, alae 6'0, caudae 5'4, 

 tarsi 2'1. 



Hob. in Nova Granada littorali, prope S. Martha. 



As will be apparent by our figure, the Accipiter castanilms is one of the most strongly 

 marked species of the numerous genus to whicb it belongs, being readily recognizable, in its 

 adult stage at least, by its deep cbesnut flanks and broadly banded under-plumage. It is 

 surprising that so noticeable a species should have remained unknown so long, but, so far as we 

 can make out, the first specimens of it received in Europe were those obtained by M. Verreaux's 

 collector, in the vicinity of S. Martha, about the year 1852, upon whicb Prince Bonaparte's 

 description was founded. It is probable that, like many other birds, this Sparrow-hawk has a 

 very limited range, and is confined to the lower valley of the Magdalena, — a country in which 

 few collections have been formed. If it ascended far up the valley it would come within the 

 grasp of the diligent bird-hunters of Bogota, which does not appear to have been the case. 



The Chesnut-sided Sparrow-hawk is of about the same size as Accipiter collaris^ Sclater, 

 and is more nearly allied to that species than to any other American Sparrow-hawk, having the 

 same robust tarsi and short toes. A. collaris is, however, a very distinct species, as reference to 

 the plate and description in the " Ibis"* will shew. 



Our figm-e of this species is taken fi-om a specimen in the British Museum, which was 

 purchased of M. Verreaux. The bird is decidedly very rare, and we do not recollect to have 

 seen it in any other collection. 



* Ibis, 1860, p. 147, t. 6. 

 Mat, 1867. 



[35] 



