Plate LXXXV. 



ACCIPITEPi GUTTATUS. 



(AZAEA'S SPAEEOW-HAWK). 



JSsparvero pardo y goteado . . . Azara, Apunt. i. p. 113, N. 24. 



Sparvim guttatus Vieillot, N. D. d'H. N. x. p. 325 et E. M. p. 1266. 



Accipiler guttatus ..... Strickl. Orn. Syn. p. 110. 



Supra fumido-niger, pileo obscuriore, capitis lateribus plumbeis : subtus rufus, gutture plumbescentiore, maculis 

 indistinctis albis omnino notatus : tibiis ferragineo-rufis ; crisso pure albo : subalaribus rufis : remigibus intus albis 

 nigricante transvittatis : cauda supra fumido-nigra, subtiis cinerascenti-alba nigro irregulariter transvittata : rostro 

 nigro, cera flavicante : pedibus flavia, unguibus nigris : long, tola 1-JtO, alas 7 '9, caudiE 6'5, tarsi 2'2. Fern. Mari 

 similis, sed major, long, tota 190, alse 9'7, caudsD S'O, tarsi 20. 



JIab. iu Paraguay a {Azara): Bolivia {Mus. Brit.) 



We first met witli examples of tliis Sparrow-hawk in tlie collection of the British Museum, 

 and, recognizing its distinctness from the nearly allied Accipiter cliilensis and A. coojperi, were for 

 some time inclined to regard it as undescribed. But a patient study of the complicated synonymy 

 of this group of birds has brought us to the belief that it may "possiblTj he the Esparvero pardo 

 y goteado of Azara, upon Avhich Vieillot established his Sparvius guttatus., and it seems better 

 to employ this otherwise useless name for it than to invent a new -one. The specimens first 

 spoken of by Azara seem to have been imma,ture, but the example described by his friend 

 Noseda (/. c. p. 114) in which the breast was -cinnamomeous, appears to indicate a species 

 resembling the adidt of the present bird. 



In general form and dimensions this Hawk closely resembles Accipiter cliilensis.^ of which 

 it is no doubt the representative in the forests of the eastern side of the Andes; but it 

 is at once distinguishable by the full rufous of the under plumage. On the breast -and belly 

 this is variegated by numerous incomplete white cross-bands, which occupy both webs of each 

 feather, leaving the centre rufous. These cross-bands are less apparent on the flanks, and 

 totally disappear on the thighs and under-wing-coverts ; the chin and throat are suffused with 

 slate colour. Next to A. cliilensis., Azara's Sparrow-hawk presents greater resemblance to 

 A. cooperi than to any other species of the group with which Ave are acquainted, tliough, judging 

 from Mr. LaAvrence's description, it cannot be unlike the Cuban A. gundlachi, a species we have 

 not yet been fortunate enough to meet Avith. From A. cooperi., the present bird is readilv 

 distinguishable by the more cinnamomeous colouring beloAV, and the pure unspotted rufous of 

 the thighs and under wing-coverts. In A. cooperi also the sides of the head and eai--coverts 

 are finely striped, which is not the case in A. guttatus. 



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