300 BIRDS OP WESTERN AND 



water ponds in the low grounds near the Rio Mazatlan. One shot in February had just captured a large water 

 frog ; the other was shot near the same locality in April. In the stomach of each I found partly digested the 

 remains of frogs, and in one a small water snake. It is of a sluggish nature, sitting for hours upon the limb 

 of a tree in apparent listlessness." 



185. Herpetotheres cachinnans (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" This remarkable species is only to be met with in the thick forests of the warmer regions, its geographical 

 Tange extending very probably into Central and South America. I found it equally as common in the locality 

 of Tehuantepec as that of Mazatlan ; northward its range stops in the densely wooded districts of the west- 

 ern and southern parts of Sonora. It is one of the most peculiar and easily identified hawks of this region, 

 not only from its well-defined markings, its large and broadly crested head, but its well known scream of 

 Guaco (pronounced waco), which is often repeated for an hour or so at a time, either late in the evening, or 

 early in thcmoming. When heard at twilight amid the solemn and eternal woods of these latitudes, a feel- 

 ing of melancholy is produced upon the weary traveller, far from his native land, as he threads some dark and 

 intiicate path, crowded on all sides with impenetrable undergrowth, and overhung with the arched branches 

 of trees of immense size and strange forms. This hawk is often found in pairs, and the answer to each other's 

 call makes, at times, a singular medley of talking and laughing together. It is seldom seen in an open coun- 

 try, or soaring at any great height. Its flight is a quick successive movement of the wings, passing through 

 the woods, or across an opening with rapid ease. It subsists almost entirely upon reptiles and rodents, which 

 its stout claws are well adapted for holding, and its rough scaly legs are armored against their bites. It some- 

 times, however, preys upon birds." 



186. Falco peregrinus var. anatum Bp. 



" " " nigriceps Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv, p. 268. 



Mazatlan, Tres Marias, Grayson. 



" In the vicinity of Mazatlan I have, at different times, observed the American Peregrine, some of which I 

 shot and preserved. A pair of these falcons have bred in a cliff" on an island near Mazatlan, called Venado 

 (deer) island; I discovered the eyry in the early part of April, 1862, in company with Lt. Remington, of the 

 British navy. We were in search of the eggs of a certain species of tern, but could find no others than those 

 of the Brown Pelican (P. fuscus), the nests of which were quite numerous; whilst thus occupied, we observed 

 a pair of Peregrines flying around, and sometimes darting into a cavity in the cliff far above our heads ; we 

 attempted every means to reach the nest, but found it inaccessible. Before leaving th® spot, we saw one of 

 them enter the cavity with a bird in its claws, from which we came to the conclusion that the nest contained 

 young. The food of the Peregrine Falcon is principally birds of all kinds, but it shows a decided partiality for 

 the smaller species of ducks, pigeons and the like. It seldom strikes its prey upon the ground, and should a 

 bird enter cover when being pursued, it immediately passes on in search of other objects of its fancy." 



187. Hypotriorchis columbarius (Linn.). 



" " Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv, p. 269. 



Mazatlan, Tres Marias, Grayson. 



"I have found this species quite common in Western Mexico, as far west as the Islands of the Tres Marias, 

 off the coast some seventy or eighty miles. I have shot it in the vicinity of Mazatlan, also Tepic, where it is 

 frequently to be met with. I observed one of these hawks whilst in Tepic, perched daily upon the top 

 branches of a tree that grew upon the plaza, being near my window where I was making some drawings, and 

 could see all its movements. It seemed to subsist entirely upon the small Cow-pen Blackbirds, which are very 

 numerous about the streets and vacant lots of Tepic. As soon as it captured its victim it immediately re- 

 turned to this same tree, where it was devoured at leisure. I have known it to capture three of these birds 

 from eight o'clock to twelve, m. It remained, and continued its usual avocations in the same locality nearly 

 the whole time I remained in Tepic, from November to January." 



