Plate XVIII. 



ACCIPITER CASTANILIUS. 



(CHESNUT-SIDED SPAEKOW-IAWK). 



Accipiter castanilius 



Bp. Kev. ZooL. 1853, p. 578 ; Compt. Rend, xxxvii. p. 810, et Notes Orn. p. 5. 

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



Fusco-ardesiacus, capite cervice et colli lateribus paulo dilutioribus : subtus albus, cinereo regulariter transfas- 

 ciatus, fasciis pectoris et ventris latioribus et castaneo marginatis, lateribus totis cum tibiis intense castaneis : remigibus 

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

 in pogonio interno cum apice extremo candidis, subtus griseis, nigricante fasciatis ; extima utrinque una supra fusca, 

 subtus grisea unicolore : rostro nigro ; cera cum pedibus flavis, unguibus nigris : long, tota 145, alae 60, caudse 5 4, 

 tarsi 2 1. 



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



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

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

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

 surprising that so noticeable a species should have remained unknown so long, but, as 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 which 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 bird than to any other American Sparrow-hawk, having the 

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

 the plate and description of that bird in the " Ibis"* will shew. 



Our figure of this species is taken from 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] 



