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The first Naturalist who appears to have distinguished these two allies was Natterer, who, 

 however, in his manuscripts unfortunately called the present bird magnirostris, and named its 

 Guianan representative (the true magnirostris) macrorliynchus. This we have been enabled to 

 ascertain positively from one of batterer's marked specimens, now in the collection of Messrs. 

 Salvin and Godman. 



As will be seen from von Pelzeln's list, Natterer collected a large number of this species 

 in various parts of Southern and Inner Brazil ; but the specimens referred to as obtained by 

 him at Barra do Eio Negro are more probably referable to the true A. magnirostris. An 

 excellent series of examples of this Hawk, collected in the vicinity of Bahia, has lately been 

 received by Salvin from Dr. Wucherer. We have also to thank the authorities of the Norfolk 

 and Norwich Museum for the loan of many specimens of this and other species of the group 

 from their fine collection of Eapacious birds. 



Prince Max. of Neuweid, tells us this Hawk is one of the commonest birds of prey in 

 all the provinces of Brazil which he visited, and was met with in the open districts as well as 

 in the forests. It appears to frequent most such parts of the country as are varied with bushes, 

 woods and roads, and may be often seen perched on the branch of a moderately sized tree, 

 watching for its prey, which consists of all sorts of small animals. In its crop Prince Max. 

 usually found grasshoppers, and the remains of birds, mice, and other small mammals. The 

 flight and cry of this bird are stated to resemble those of the European Buzzard. 



It is very difficult to decide positively whether Spix s figure of Falco insectivorus (Av. Bras, 

 i. t. viii. a) is intended to represent the present bird or the true A. magnirostris. As far as we 

 can make out from his text, he appears to have had both species under view. We have, 

 therefore, thought it better to call the present bird nattereri, after the illustrious Naturalist 

 who first appreciated the differences between the two species. 



Our figure of the adult of this bird is taken from a Brazilian specimen in the Norwich 

 Museum : that of the younger bird from a skin transmitted to us by Di\ Wucherer. 



Apkil, 1869, 



[ 174 ] 



