HEKPETOTHEEES. US 



Atlantic coast, and about the village of Chimalapa the species was of frequent 

 occurrence. Throughout the Pacific coast-region the bird is apparently less numerous, 

 a single individual only being observed near the Hacienda " La Grande." Specimens 

 were collected by Leyland and George Whitely in Honduras, the former stating that 

 it was tolerably abundant near Omoa. 



In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting shot a single specimen in swampy country near Sucuya. 

 From Matagalpa and San Emilio we have received examples from Mr. Richardson, and, 

 judging from Mr. Richmond's notes, the species occurs plentifully on the Escondido 

 River. It is not unfrequent in collections from Costa Rica and Panama, as well as 

 from the greater part of South America, though not ranging high in the mountainous 

 regions. 



The peculiar cry of H. cachinnans has gained for it the name of the " Laughing- 

 Falcon." Leyland^ says that its call could be heard for miles, while Mr. Richmond 

 avers that the laugh preceding the cry is only audible close at hand. The birds call 

 most frequently about dusk, and they may be heard until after dark. The species is 

 known by the name of the " Rain-Crow " to the Americans on the Escondido River, and 

 by that of " Guansi " to the natives of Guatemala. Mr. Chapman has also given an 

 amusing account of the bird and its laughing-note ^^. It subsists chiefly upon reptiles 

 and rodents, but occasionally preys on birds and grasshoppers. 



The nesl and eggs are at present unknown. 



Subfam. FALCONING. 



The Falcons (Falconinse) are nearly world-wide in their distribution, and some 

 members of the subfamily are found as far north as any of the Accipitres. The most 

 familiar genus is Tinnunculus, some one or more members of which occur in most of 

 the temperate and tropical parts of the globe. 



Treating the Kestrels (Tinnunculus) as belonging to a distinct genus from the 

 Falcons (Falco), we have but these two genera of the Falconinse in our region, the 

 species of which, as vrill be seen below, are widely spread either over North or South 

 America or, it may be, over the entire Neotropical Region. 



Dr. Coues defines the Falconinse as follows : — " Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and 

 notch near the end of the cutting-edge of the maxilla (sometimes with two such teeth), 

 and the end of the mandible truncated with a notch near the tip. Nostrils circular, 

 placed high in the cere, with a prominent central tubercle. Inter-nasal septum exten- 

 sively ossified. Palate with a median keel anteriorly. Superciliary shield prominent 

 in one large piece .... Wings strong, long and pointed, with rigid and usually 

 straight and tapering fiight-feathers ; the tip formed by the second and third quills, 

 supported nearly to their ends by the first and fourth which are longer than the fifth, 

 only one or two outer primaries emarginate on the inner webs near the end. Tail 



BIOL. CEKTB.-AMEE., Aves, Vol. III., Felruary 1901. 15 



