542 SY3TEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — BAPTORES — A CCIPITEES. 



cooperi), or of very partial distribution in K. Am. In all cases, the sexes are alike or similar; 

 the 9 is larger than the $ ; the young are different from the adults; melanism is frequently 



exhibited. 



Analysis of Subgenera and Species. 



Five outer primaries emarginate or sinuate on inner webs ; tail more than § the wing ; bill high at base ; 

 nostrils oval, with eccentric tubercle. (Parabutco.) 



Tail blackish (with white base and tip) ; lesser wing-coverts and tibiae reddish ; general plumage 



blackish. Southwestern U. S., common unicinctus 512 



Four outer primaries emarginate or sinuate on inner webs. 



Tail ichlte, with a broad black subterminal zone and numerous very narrow, zig-zag, or broken, 

 blackish cross-liues. Texas alhocaudatus 513 



Tail mostly white, ashy-clouded ; marked lengthvnse \y\i\L rufous and darker; and with dark sub- 

 terminal zone ; under parts mostly white. Gala., one specimen known cooperi 514 



Tail mottled with dusky and white, and with subterminal blackish zone; showing also red<lish 

 touches. Plumage almost entirely blackish, with fleecy-white bases of feathers. Kas. to Tex., 

 little known harlanl 515 



Tail of adult chestnut-red j with broad black subterminal bar, and others or not ; no reddish on wing- 

 coverts ; white prevailing on under parts, especially breast. Tail of young closely barred with 

 grayish and blackish. Largest and most robust ; wing usually 14.00 or more ; tarsus stout. 

 N. Am., abundant horealis 51G-519 



Tail of adult black, crossed by about 6 white bars ; primaries sjjotted with white ; lesser wing-coverts 

 reddish, like under parts. Tail of young dusky, numerously barred with whitish ; under jjarts 

 whitish, streaked with dusky. Less robust; wing usually under 14.00 ; tarsus slender. N. Am., 

 abundant llneatus 520, 521 



Tail of adult black, with 3 broad white zones on inner webs only of the feathers, ashy on outer webs ; 

 plumage black, spotted or not with white. Tail of young dusky, inner webs mostly white, 



black-barred. Southwestern U. S ahbreviatus 522 



Three outer primaries emarginate or sinuate on inner webs. 



Tail numerously and narrowly cross-barred with lighter and darker. Plumage extremely variable, 

 but not extensively reddish underneath, nor cheeks with a dark mustache. Large; wing usually 

 over 13.00. Chiefly western U. S., abundant sirainsoni 523 



Tail of adult blackish with about 3 light gray bands exposed ; under parts extensively rufous ; 

 a dark moustache. Small; wing under 12.00. Eastern U. S., common .... pennsylvanicus 52i 



Tail (of adult ?) crossed with numerous light and dark bars (6-8 of each); general color fuliginous, 

 scarcely or not varied. Southwestern U". S brachyurus 882, 883 



* Heavy-weights; 5 outer primaries cut. 



512. B. unicin'ctus liar'risi. (Lat. uni-j once; ductus, girdled. To Edw. Harris.) Harris's 

 IJuzzARD. Adult ^ 9 ■ G-eneral plumage blackish, more or less intense, sometimes rather 

 dark chocolate-brown, blackening on "wings and tail, but in any case pretty uniform over the 

 whole body. Lesser and part of middle wing-coverts, liniug of wiugs, and the tibiae^ bruwuish- 

 red, or rich chestnut. Tail-coverts and base of tail broadly white, thus girdling the wliole 

 iigure ; end of tail also white for an inch or more. Length of ^ about 20.00 j extent 41.00- 

 46.00; wing 12.59-13.50 ■ tail 8.50-9.50; tarsus 3.00-3.25; middle toe without claw 2.00. 

 9 larger; about 23.00; extent 43.00-47.00; wing 13.50-14.50; tail 9.50-10.50. Young: 

 Less decidedly blackish, the upper parts varied with rusty-brown, lower quite tawny with 

 dusky spots or streaks, chestnut of wiugs not unbroken, and white of tail less distinctly defined. 

 Tibiae tawny-white, distinctly barred with chestnut. But in any plumage the species is un- 

 mistakable, forming a separate subgenus from Buteo proper, by some ranked as a genus ; 

 the loral region is extensively denuded to the eye, and furnished with short radiating bristles. 

 In some respects it resembles Polt/horus, being a sluggish, carrion- feeding bird, usually found 

 associated with the caracara, turkey-buzzard, and black vulture. Tt is a common inhabitant of 

 the wanner ])arts of America and (jver our Mexican border; abundant in some parts of Texas. 

 Nest in a tree or bush; eggs commonly 2, measuring 2.00-2.10 X 1-70, Avbite or whitish, 

 unmarked or with faint brownish-yelloAi'. (Paral'iifro Pidg. Erythrocnema Sharpe.) 



** Heavy-weights ; 4 outer primaries cut. 



513. B. albocauda'tus. (Lat. r/Z?>ir5, white ; cait£?a^».9, tailed.) White-tailed Buzzard. Adult 



^ 9 • Tail and its coverts white, with a broad black subterminal zone, with numerous 



