Plate LXXXVIII. 



ASTURINA RUFICAUDA. 



(EED-TAILED BUZZAED-HAWK). 



Asturina magnirostris 



Asturina rujicaucla 



Sclater, P.Z.S. 1856, p. 285, 1859, p. 368, 1864, p. 178. 



Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 217. 



Lawr. Ann. L. K Y. vii. p. 316, viii. p. 178. 



Moore, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 52. 



Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1869, p. 133. 



Supra obscure cinerea ; remigibus primariis ad basin ferrugineis, nigro transfasciatis, intus in pogonio interiore 

 cinnamomeis, ad apices nigricantibus : subtus gula et pectore obscure cinereis : ventre toto cum tibiis ferrugineo et 

 pallido fulvo frequenter transfasciatis ; crisso cinnamomeo : cauda nigra, ferrugineo late trivittata et terminate : 

 tectricibus subalaribus cinnamomeis : rostro nigro, cera flava ; pedibus navis, unguibus nigris : long, tota 14r0, alee 8*5, 

 caudse 6*0, tarsi 2*5. Junior. Supra fusca ; gutture fusco flammulato, ventris maculis sagittatis fuscis. 



Sab. in America centrali a Mexico merid. usque ad isthmum Panamensem. 



As we liave already shown in our paper before referred to, the northern representative of 

 the present group of Asturina appears in its adult dress to be readily distinguishable from the 

 southern forms, and to require specific separation. From A. magnirostris and A. nattereri it 

 differs in the deep red tail-bands, the corresponding colour in the two last-mentioned species 

 being pale cinereous. In younger specimens of A. ruficauda these bands are likewise cinereous, 

 but in nearly every case show traces of rufescent colouring beginning to appear. In the 

 general colour of its under plumage A. ruficauda more nearly resembles A. nattereri than 

 A. magnirostris, having the belly, flanks, and thighs of the same rich ferruginous tinge which 

 distinguishes A. nattereri; but in the present bird the throat and chest are usually of a pale 

 cinereous^ thus more resembling A. magnirostris. 



"We have seen a great number of specimens of this species from various parts of Southern 

 Mexico and Central America. In Guatemala, where it is one of the commonest species of 

 Hawk, Salvin obtained examples from the plains of Zacapa, the Pacific coast-region, the valley 

 of the Eiver Polochic, Choctum in the forest-region of Vera Paz, and the savanas of the district 

 of Peten. 



Asturina ruficauda, though thus widely distributed, is not found in the elevated mountain 

 districts, but frequents the lowland plains up to an elevation of about 2500 feet above the 

 sea-level. Its food in Guatemala consists almost entirely of small snakes and lizards ; in one 

 specimen, collected at Chimalapa, on the plain of Zacapa, the stomach is noted as having 

 contained " centipedes." 



Southwards of Guatemala this Buzzard-hawk is generally distributed over the Central- 



m 





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