This Hawk has an extensive range in Central America, reaching from the northern frontiers of 

 Mexico down to Costa Eica. In consequence of its having been obtained by Lieut. D. N. Couch 

 in the Mexican province of New Leon in 1853 Prof. Baird has included it in his work on the 

 birds of North America, but we have not yet heard whether it has since been found north of the 

 frontier-line. 



In Southern Mexico it would appear to be common, having been included in most of the 

 collections made by M. Salle and his correspondents in Vera Cruz and the adjoining States, 

 as well as in Mr. White's series from the vicinity of the city of Mexico. In Guatemala Salvin 

 found this Hawk likewise abundant in the lowlands and up to an elevation of about 3000 feet. 

 Here it is generally seen singly, watching for its prey amongst the trees that are scattered over 

 the more open districts, or in the outskirts of the forest clearings. Its food is principally Lizards 

 of various sorts (such as Trojoidolepis torquatus, GnemidopJiorus undulatus, and various species 

 of Anolis), which abound in such localities. Many skins of this bird were obtained both in 

 Vera Paz and in the Pacific coast-region. In the former district, near San Geronimo, 

 Mr. Eobert Owen found it breeding, in April, 1860, as recorded in a The Ibis/' Mr. Owen 

 tells us that its nest is placed in the high trees which are scattered over the plains, and not 

 unfrequently within a few yards of the Indian ranchos. 



The number of eggs in one nest is two. They are white, without any markings, but have 

 the inner coating of a sea-green, as in Astur 'palumbarius. 



Our authority for the occurrence of this species in Costa Eica rests upon a single specimen 

 shot by Arce at La Barranca on the Pacific slope in March 1864. This bird is in immature 

 plumage, but presents traces of the adult dress on various parts of the back, so that there can 

 be no doubt of its belonging to the present species, and not to the true A. nitida, which, though 

 common on the Panama Eailway-line, does not appear to range further north. 



Our figure of the adult of this bird (two-thirds of the natural size) is from a Guatemalan 

 skin obtained by Messrs. Salvin and Godman, in December, 1861, on the southern slopes of the 

 Volcan de Fuego. That of the immature bird in the back-ground^ is from the typical specimen of 

 A. plagiata in the Berlin Museum, which Dr. Peters has most kindly lent to us for this purpose. 



The subjoined table may, perhaps, assist in distinguishing the seven species of the genus 

 Asturina, in their adult dress ;■ — 



A. Supra cineresD aut fuscse : subtus plus minusve transfasciata? — 



a. prim, pogoniis internis albis nigro transfasciatis : 

 supra transfasciata 

 supra unicolor . 



h. prim, pogon. int.. rufis nigro transfasciatis : 

 a. caudae fasciis cinereis : 



tibiis albis, cinereo transfasciatis 

 tibiis fulvis, rufo transfasciatis 

 V. cauda? fasciis runs : 



gula et pectore cinereis 



gula obscure fusca, pect. fulvescente 



B. Supra et subtus unicolor niger . 



1. nitida. 



2. plagiata. 



3. magnirostris, 



4. nattereri. 



5. ruficauda. 



6. pucherani. 



7. leucorrhoa* 



Mat, 1869. 



[180] 



