tK 



Plate XO. 



ASTURINA PLAGIATA. 



(LICHTENSTEIN'S BTJZZAKD-HAWK). 



Falco plagiatus . . Licht. in Mus. Berol. 



Asturina plagiata . . . Schlege], Mus. d. P. B., Asturince, p. 1, 



Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1869, p. 130. 

 Asturina nitida . . . Cassin, in Baird's Birds of IS". A. p. 35. 



Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, pp. 201, 227 ; 1859, pp. 368, 389 : 1864, p. 369. 



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



Salvin, Ibis, 1861, p. 68. 



Lawr. Ann. Lye. ~N. T. ix. p. 133. 



Supra cinerea : subtus dilutior, fasciis angustis albis omnino, nisi in gutture, transvittata ; crisso et tectricibus 

 caudse superioribus albis : tectricibus alarum inferioribus et remigum pogoniis internis albis, fasciis quibusdam cinereis : 

 cauda nigra, albo trivittata, et auguste terminate : rostro nigro, cera et pedibus flavis : long, tota 14 '5, alse 9'4, caudse 

 6*0, tarsi 2 - 8. Fern. Mari similis, sed major; long. tot. 17, alas 105, caudse 6*8, tarsi 3"0. Junior. Supra nigricanti- 

 brunnea, fulvo paululum mixta ; subtus alba, nigricanti-fusco guttata, tibiis hoc colore frequenter transfasciatis : cauda 

 supra fumido-fusca, subtus cinerea ; nigro frequenter transfasciata. 



Sab. in Mexico, Gruatemala, et Costa Rica. 



Although, as will be seen from our list of synonyms, numerous specimens of this Hawk 

 have from time to time passed through our hands, we have, until recently, failed to distinguish 

 it from its southern representative. Nor have the American naturalists, who have met with 

 this species upon the southern confines of the great .Republic been more discriminating, as they 

 also have associated it with the well-known Asturina nitida. The two species are, nevertheless, 

 separated by very conspicuous characters, as is amply shewn by the series of specimens contained 

 in the collection of Salvin and Godman which is now before us. 



In the adult of the present bird the whole upper surface is uniform dark cinereous, without 

 any traces of cross-bars externally, except some faint markings upon the lesser wing-coverts. 

 In A, nitida, on the contrary, the whole upper surface is regularly crossed with transverse bars, 

 which are narrower and more frequent upon the upper part of the head and neck. The lower 

 surfaces of the two allies are very similar, except that the throat in the northern bird is cinereous 

 instead of being of a pure white. The lower white tail-band in A. jplagiata is likewise narrower 

 than in A. nitida. In comparing the immature birds of the two species certain differences are 

 also apparent. In the first plumage of the present bird the thighs are distinctly crossed with 

 numerous brownish-black bands upon a white ground, while in A. nitida these parts are rufous 5 

 more or less intense, but without any traces of these markings. 



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