Part 76

_Juv._ (♂, 51,293, Costa Rica, La Palma, August 25, 1867; José C. Zeledon). Whole upper surface black, deepest on the tail; it occupies the whole head (except the chin, throat, and sides of the neck), the black cheek-patch having considerable prominence; feathers everywhere (except on the head and neck) indistinctly bordered with light brownish, this becoming more distinct posteriorly; upper tail-coverts tipped and barred beneath the surface with pure white; secondaries, primaries, and primary coverts narrowly but sharply tipped with pure white; tail crossed with five very sharp bars of pure white, the last terminal, the first two concealed by the coverts; these transverse spots touch the shaft, but not the edge of the feather; on the lateral feather they are confined to the inner web. Chin, throat, neck, and breast, abdomen, crissum, and lower tail-coverts, deep orange (not chestnut) rufous; in fact, this forms the ground-color of the whole lower parts; but the sides, flanks, and abdomen have such large transverse spots of black (these exceeding the orange in amount), giving the prevailing color; the orange of the jugulum is sharply defined, with a semicircular outline, against the black of the belly, and has distinct lanceolate shaft-streaks of black; the lower part of the abdomen, and the tibiæ, have cordate or broadly sagittate black spots, rather exceeding the orange; the lower tail-coverts have broad transverse spots of black. (The orange is deepest on the jugulum and crissum, being palest where most thickly spotted; it is immaculate only on chin, throat, and neck; the markings are longitudinal only on the jugulum.) Lining of the wing like the belly, that is, the black predominating; under surface of primaries with transverse elliptical spots of pale cream-color, seven in number on the longest. Wing-formula, 2, 1–3. Wing, 9.90; tail, 5.40; culmen, .72; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, 1.75; outer toe, 1.20; inner, 1.00; posterior, .80.

_List of Specimens examined._—National Museum, 1; G. N. Lawrence, 1; Boston Society, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 3. Total, 7.

_Measurements._—♀. Wing, 10.90–11.30; tail, 6.00–6.25; culmen, .90; tarsus, 1.50–1.60; middle toe, 1.85–2.10.

[57] _Falco rufigularis_, DAUD. Tr. Orn. II, 131, 1800.—STRICKL. Orn. Syn. I, 88, 1855. _Hypotriorchis rufigularis_, GRAY, Gen. B. fol. sp. 5, 1844; List B. Brit. Mus. p. 54, 1848; Hand List, I, 21, 1869.—BONAP. Consp. Av. (sub _F. aurantius_.).—GRAY, Hand List, I, 21, 1869. _Falco aurantius_, β, LATH. Ind. Orn. I, 48, 1790. _Falco aurantius_, γ, LATH. Ind. Orn. I, 48, 1790. _Falco aurantius_, TEMM. Pl. Col. sub. pl. cccxlviii, 1836.—LICHT. Verz. Doubl. p. 61, 1823.—CASS. B. N. Am. 1858, 10.—ELLIOT, Birds N. Am. pl. xi. _Falco albigularis_, DAUD. Tr. Orn. II, 131, 1800. _Falco hæmorrhoidalis_, HAHN, Vög. XV, Lief. pl. i, 1818. _Falco cucullatus_, SWAINS. An. Menag. p. 340, 1838. _Falco thoracicus_, DONOVAN, Nat. Rep. pl. xlv, 1822.

SP. CHAR. _Adult_ (♂, 52,820, Mazatlan, Western Mexico; Col. A. J. Grayson). Above dark slate, with a bluish-plumbeous cast, and uniform over whole surface (wings included) from nape to tail. Anteriorly the tint is almost black, this covering continuously the whole upper and lateral portion of the head, reaching down to the throat, and forming a broad angular projection over the cheeks, which are purer black. All the feathers above darker centrally, but the obscure spots so formed mostly concealed; shafts of the feathers inconspicuously black; upper tail-coverts each with two broad transverse spots of black. Secondaries, primary coverts, and primaries uniform dull black; the former, and inner feathers of the latter, very narrowly ashy-whitish on terminal border,—the coverts with a bluish shade terminally. Tail black (dull light brown at apical margin), crossed with about six obsolete narrow bands of plumbeous, these changing to narrower white bars on the inner webs. Chin, base of maxillæ, throat, sides of the neck, and jugulum, ochraceous-white, the ochraceous tinge deepest posteriorly; breast (broadly across) and sides black, with numerous narrow transverse bars of reddish-white, becoming more ashy posteriorly; abdomen, anal region, tibiæ, femorals, and lower tail-coverts uniform deep, almost castaneous, rufous. Lining of the wing dull black, with circular ochraceous-white spots, but former predominating; whole under surface of primaries and secondaries a similar blackish-dusky, the former with narrow transverse elliptical spots of white, of which there are eight (the first and last merely indicated) on the longest quill. Wing-formula, 2–1–3. Wing, 7.70; tail, 3.95; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, 1.20. Tail slightly emarginated; second and third feathers longest (counting from exterior).

♀ (5,218, Mazatlan; Colonel Grayson). Almost precisely similar to the male; less contrast between blackish-plumbeous of the nape, and more bluish of the back; bands on tail five in number; bars on black beneath more reddish. Wing-formula same. Wing, 8.80; tail, 4.40; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.30.

_Juv._ (Bryant Coll. 1,531, Orizaba, Mex.). Above continuous dull black, without bluish cast or concealed spots; tail-bands narrower, purer white; black beneath duller, transverse bars more obsolete, broader, and pale rusty; chestnut-rufous of posterior lower portions lighter and less uniform; lower tail-coverts with broad transverse spots of plumbeous-black. Wing-formula as in adult. Wing, 8.75; tail, 4.40.

Two young males from Tehuantepec, Mexico (Nos. 613 and 613, May 16, 1871; F. Sumichrast), differ from that described above in some remarkable respects: the upper parts are in one black, but without the rusty margins to the feathers; in the other, almost exactly as in the adult plumage described. The lower parts, however, are most different; the throat and jugular are uniform deep soft ochraceous, with a few longitudinal streaks of black near the black abdominal patch; the bars in this last are deep rufous, and the terminal band of the tail is also deep rufous. The weak bill, and soft, blended character of the plumage, indicate unmistakably the very young age of these specimens, which are also marked “very young” by M. Sumichrast.

In colors, as well as in size and form, this very handsome little Falcon closely resembles the _F. severus_, Horsf., of Manilla and the neighboring East Indian Islands; the main difference is that in that species the lower surface is wholly deep rufous, instead of partly black.

_List of Specimens examined._—National Museum, 11; Boston Society, 6; Philadelphia Academy, 7; New York Museum, 3; G. N. Lawrence, 3; R. Ridgway, 2. Total, 32.

_Measurements._—♂. Wing, 7.20–8.80; tail, 4.20–5.10; culmen, .45–.55; tarsus, 1.25–1.50; middle toe, 1.15–1.30. Specimens, 13. ♀. Wing, 8.50–9.00; tail, 5.00–5.50; culmen, .58; tarsus, 1.48–1.55; middle toe, 1.30–1.40. Specimens, 8.

HAB. Tropical America, northward through Central America and Mexico almost to southern border of United States.

Localities: Veragua, SCL. & SALV. 1869, 252.

[58] _Falco_ (_Æsalon_) _lithofalco_, var. _lithofalco_ (GMELIN). _Accipiter lithofalco_, BRISS. Orn. I, 1760, 349. _Falco lithofalco_, GMEL. S. N. 1789, 278. _Æsalon lithofalco_, KAUP. Ueb. Falk. Mus. Senck. 258. _Falco regulus_, GMEL. S. N. 1798, 285. _Accipiter æsalon_, BRISS. Orn. I, 1760, 382. _Falco æsalon_, GMELIN, S. N. 1789, 284.—YARRELL, Hist. Brit. B., ed. 1871, 74. _Hypotriorchis æsalon_, GRAY, Gen. 1844, Sp. 10. _Falco intermixtus_, DAUD. Tr. Orn. II, 1800, 141. _Falco emerillus_, SAVIGNY, Descr. Egypt, Pt. I, 1809, 100. _Falco sibiricus_, SHAW, Zoöl. VII, 1812, 207. _Falco cæsius_, MEYER, Tasch. deutsch. Vög. I, 1810. _Falco subæsalon_, BREHM, Vög. Deutsch. I, 1831, 67.

HAB. Europe and Western Asia; Iceland.

_List of Specimens examined._—National Museum, 8; Boston Society, 4; Cambridge Museum, 3; New York Museum, 2; Philadelphia Academy, 3. Total, 20.

_Measurements._—♂. Wing, 7.60–8.00; tail, 5.10–5.30; culmen, .45–.50; tarsus, 1.35–1.45; middle toe, 1.15: specimens, 10. ♀. Wing, 8.60–9.00; tail, 6.00–6.30; culmen, .52–.55; tarsus, 1.45–1.47; middle toe, 1.20–1.25: specimens, 10.

[59] Proceedings Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, Dec., 1870, pp. 147–149.

[60] See London Ibis.

[61] A synopsis of the geographical races of _T. sparverius_ comes after the remarks on that species, page 1486.

[62] _Falco_ (_Tinnunculus_) _leucophrys_. _Tinnunculus sparveroides_ (not of Vigors!), LAWRENCE, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 1860, p. 1 (in part; light individuals). _Falco sparverius_ (not of Linn.!), D’ORB. R. Sagra, Hist. Nat. Cuba, p. 25 (probably). VIG. Zoöl. Journ. I, 339; III, 435. Tinnunculus leucophrys, RIDGWAY, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1870, 147. _Hab._ Cuba and Hayti.

_Adult_ ♂ (34,244, Remedios, Cuba, December 14, 1863; N. H. Bishop). Head above pure, fine bluish-ash, becoming (broadly) white on forehead; the feathers with delicate shaft-lines of black. Nape, back, scapulars, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail rich purplish-rufous (almost exactly as in _sparverius_); no bars on dorsal region, except a very few across ends of larger posterior scapulars. Terminal band of tail _light rufous_, .30 in width; subterminal zone of black, very regular, .55 in width; lateral feather, with outer web and end of inner, reddish-white, the black subterminal band crossing the inner web only; inner web anterior to this, continuous rufous; shafts of tail-feathers rufous. Wings fine bluish-ash, like the crown; middle and lower coverts with a very few elliptical, _longitudinal_ specks or touches of black on the shafts; secondaries passing terminally into white, their exposed basal half pure black; primaries pure black, exposed edges of inner webs paler. Whole under surface of wings _immaculate_ pure white, with a faint delicate reddish tinge; inner webs of primaries serrated along the shaft with dusky. Forehead and superciliary stripe (broadly and sharply defined against the bluish of the crown), whole side of the head (including lores and ear-coverts), and entire lower parts, continuous, _immaculate_, pure white, with a delicate orange tinge, except anteriorly. The “mustache” is but just indicated by some blackish touches, and in some individuals it is wanting entirely, while in all it is very restricted in width; the other black markings of the head are, however, as in _sparverius_. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 5.00; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90; culmen, .46. A specimen in Mr. Lawrence’s collection, which with others he has kindly lent me for examination, is in beautifully high plumage. It differs from the type in having the white of the lower parts tinged, or rather _stained_, with a beautiful, delicate _rufous_, or almost a _salmon-orange_. The terminal band of the tail also inclines decidedly to this color, while the white of the under surface of the wing (particularly towards ends of secondaries and primaries) is tinged with a more pinkish shade of the same. Another of Mr. Lawrence’s specimens differs in the clearer white beneath (that is, with less reddish tinge,—the pureness and continuity does not vary), which extends entirely around the neck, giving a sharper definition to the black pattern. The “mustache,” however, is almost entirely absent; the black transverse spots on larger posterior scapulars are rather more conspicuous, and the terminal band of the tail is more purely white.

♀ (31,984, Cuba, J. Ackhurst). Generally similar to _sparverius_, but rufous brighter, the bars narrower and less numerous; the nape or upper part of back, and rump, being almost immaculate. Tail with ten black bars, these scarcely touching the shaft; the last is about .36 wide, the others about .16; tip of tail scarcely paler than base; lateral feather with outer web edged broadly with paler or ochraceous white, rufous next the shaft, immaculate; inner web with only three or four very narrow bars on terminal half. Head as in the male, but vertex considerably tinged with rufous. Whole lower parts, including frontal and lateral regions of the head, continuous pure white; breast with a very faint yellowish tinge; side of the breast and sides with a few scattered minute elliptical longitudinal flakes of rusty,—more black on the shaft. Whole under surface of the wing white, as in the male. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.70; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .90; culmen, .51. A Cuban female belonging to Mr. Lawrence is exactly similar. One in the S. I. Collection, from Hayti (42,420, Port au Prince, June 5, 1860; A. C. Younglove), differs only in less purely black bars, and in utter absence of the mustache. A male from the same locality (43,418) is like it in the last respect.

_Juv._ ♀ (34,235, Remedios, Cuba, December, 1864; N. H. Bishop). Similar to the adult described, but jugulum tinged with soft pinkish-rufous, and the black bars on upper parts—especially on wings—with a plumbeous cast.

In regard to this form, we must either consider that it is a distinct species, or assume that it is a light phase of a Cuban species, of which _T. sparveroides_ may be the dark or rufescent form; knowing, as we do, that the differences between _leucophrys_ and _sparveroides_ depend on neither sex, age, nor season, then the only way to account for the two phases is to consider that the Cuban bird (if we deny it the rank of a species) presents a very peculiar example of dimorphism. I have never yet seen a specimen which was not decidedly one or the other. An adult male from Cuba is immaculate white beneath, the breast very strongly tinged with deep rufous, the mustache wholly absent. Two females have narrow brown streaks on the breast, the mustache nearly obsolete; the dusky bars on primaries and tail much narrower.

_List of Specimens examined._—Nat. Mus., 7; Bost. Soc., 3; Philad. Acad., 2; G. N. Lawrence, 4. Total, 16.

_Measurements._—♂. Wing, 6.80–7.30; tail, 4.90–5.20; culmen, .45; tarsus, 1.45; middle toe, .90; specimens, 4. ♀, Wing, 7.10–7.60; tail, 4.90–5.60; culmen, .50–.52; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .91; specimens, 6.

[63] _Falco_ (_Tinnunculus_) _sparveroides_. _Falco sparveroides_, VIGORS, Zoöl. Journ. III, 436, 1827; Isis, 1830, p. 1166.—D’ORB. (R. de la Sagra), Hist. Cuba, 1840, p. 30, pl. i. _Tinnunculus sparveroides_, GRAY, Gen. B. fol. sp. 12, 1844.—FRASER, Zoöl. Typ. pl. xxx.—BONAP. Consp. Av. p. 27.—STRICKL. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855.—LAWR. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 1860, p. 1 (in part dark specimens).—RIDGWAY, P. A. N. S. Phil. Dec. 1870, 149. _Tinnunculus dominicensis_ (not of GMEL.?), GRAY, Hand List, I, 24, 1869.—GUNDLACH, Repert. Cuba, I, 225, 1865. _? Hypotriorchis ferrugineus_, SAUSS. Rev. et Mag. Zoöl. 1859, p. 117, pl. iii.

_Hab._ Cuba (only?).

_Adult_ ♂ (31,985, Cuba; J. Ackhurst). Above, continuously dark plumbeous, from bill to the tail, the shafts of the feathers black (these streaks most noticeable on the head above), the larger scapulars and interscapulars darker centrally, forming indistinct or obscure spots; this plumbeous covers the whole neck laterally, and the middle area of the ear-coverts. An obsolete “mustache” running from the lores downward across the cheeks, a spot across ends of the ear-coverts connected with that on the neck, and obsolete though continuous collar round the nape, inclining to black. Primaries wholly black, basal third of secondaries the same. (No spots on wings.) Tail deep chestnut, shafts of feathers black; terminal band dull slate; subterminal black zone about .60 of an inch in width, but instead of running sharply across, as in all the varieties of _sparverius_ and in _leucophrys_, the black runs along the edge of each feather, bordering it nearly to the base; the lateral feather has both webs continuous deep chestnut, the tip slate, the subterminal spot and shaft black. Chin and throat dull ashy-white; rest of lower parts continuous deep chestnut-rufous, this palest on the anal region, and tinged with slate across the jugulum as well as on the flanks, where there are a very few darker spots. (The chestnut beneath is unspotted.) Inner webs of primaries mottled along the edge with paler slate, this running in points toward the shafts, giving an idea of bars. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.45; tarsus, 1.31; middle toe, .90; culmen, .50.

♂ (29,579, Cuba, April 25; Charles Wright). Head above, dark plumbeous; feathers with darker shaft-lines; black stripes of head more sharply defined than in the male. Above, continuously deep rufous (brighter and more ferruginous than in the different styles of _sparverius_), continuously barred, as in var. _sparverius_, but blacker, the bars on upper part of back with tendency to longitudinal direction. Tail with twelve narrow, sharply defined bars of black; but the ground-color continuous rufous to the tip, the lateral feather as deeply rufous as the middle. Inner webs of primaries deep rusty-rufous, with twelve very narrow transverse bars of dusky crossing to the edge. The middle area of the ear-coverts, with the chin and throat, is dull white; the rest of the lower parts (including side of the neck) and whole lining of the wing are deep rusty-rufous, paler on the crissum, nearly white on the anal region; these regions have no spots, except on the flanks, where are a few narrow transverse bars. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4, 1. Wing, 7.00; tail, 4.45; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90; culmen, .51.

_Juv._ ♂ (39,108, Remedios, Cuba, December 11, 1863; N. H. Bishop). General appearance of the adult; but back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts chestnut-rufous, uniform with the tail; these parts are, however, strongly clouded with more bluish slate, and the blackish spots are more distinct. The black zone of the tail runs more sharply across, and is narrower than in the adult. The middle area of the ear-coverts is nearly as light as the throat. The rufous beneath is less castaneous, as well as less continuous, becoming nearly white on abdomen and tibia; the slaty tinge on the jugulum is wanting. Wing-formula, 3, 2–4, –1. Wing, 6.85; tail, 4.90; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .90; culmen, .50.

♀ (23,546, Monte Verde, Cuba, July 16, 1861; Charles Wright). Differing from the adult in the same respects as does that of _sparverius_, the chief differences consisting in the deeper chestnut of the tail, and broader and blacker bars above. Rufous beneath, with numerous sagittate spots of black; lower tail-coverts with subterminal bars, and lining of the wing with sparse streaks of the same. Plumage generally with a blended appearance. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4=1. Wing, 7.40; tail, 4.85; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .90. Another specimen (No. 23,545, Monte Verde, July 17, 1861; C. Wright) is much the same, but has distinct spots of black on the abdomen, and tear-shaped marking of the same on the scapulars. The young female of this species bears a remarkably close resemblance to the young of _T. punctatus_, Cuv., of Madagascar, agreeing almost entirely with it in colors, with the exception of those on the tail, the bars on which are black and ash, instead of black and rufous. Whether it be considered a distinct species or not, the _T. sparveroides_ certainly grades into the _T. sparverius_, in the very near relation of an aberrant condition of the adult phase of the latter, noticed in specimens from Florida and adjoining portions of the South American and Gulf coast, and the young normal or usual plumage of the former. As is well known, the young ♂ _sparveroides_ has a reddish and also more or less barred or spotted back, as in the male of all the races of _sparverius_ at all ages; the intermediate or transition dress of the young male showing cloudings of plumbeous in the rufous, indicative of the coming uniform plumbeous of perfect maturity. Now, knowing that a wholly plumbeous dorsal region in the adult, and wholly or mostly rufous dorsal region in the young male, are characteristic features of _T. sparveroides_, we are somewhat surprised to find in adult males of _T. sparverius_ var. _isabellinus_ from Florida, a greater or less mixture of plumbeous feathers in various parts of the dorsal region, particularly in the rump and upper tail-coverts. Many specimens from this locality show another approach to the young male of _sparveroides_ in the deep, unspotted rufous of the lower parts, sometimes the throat only being white. A young male of _sparveroides_ from Cuba, and an adult male of _sparverius_ said to be from Cuba, are at a cursory glance not distinguishable; a close comparison, however, will disclose the fact, that in the former, the badly defined head-markings, nearly obsolete black markings on the wings (including basal space of the secondaries, which is conspicuously and sharply defined in the other specimen), and the blurred character of the bars over inner webs of primaries, remain as characters distinguishing the former. The lateral tail-feather, too, has its outer web deep rufous, while it is white, black-spotted, in the specimen of _sparverius_.

_List of Specimens examined._—Nat. Mus., 14; Bost. Soc., 3; Philad., 1; G. N. Lawrence, 4; R. Ridgway, 1. Total, 23.

_Measurements._—♂. Wing, 6.90–7.10; tail, 4.80–5.10; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.45–1.48; middle toe, .90. Specimens, 4. ♀. Wing, 7.00–7.50; tail, 5.00–5.15; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.35–1.40; middle toe, .88–.90. Specimens, 3.

[64] _Falco sparverius_, var. _australis_. _Falco gracilis_ (not of LESSON!), SWAINS. An. Menag. p. 281, 1838. _Falco sparverius_ (not of LINNÆUS!), TSCHUDI, Faun. Per. An. p. 110. _Tinnunculus sparverius_ (not of VIEILLOT!), DARW. Zoöl. Beag. pt. iii, 29. _Bidens sparverius_, SPIX, Av. Bras. I, 16. _Bidens dominicensis_ (not _F. dominicensis_ of GMELIN!), SPIX, Av. Bras. I, 16. _Tinnunculus dominicensis_, STRICKL. Orn. Syn. I, 100, 1855 (in part). _T. sparverius_, var. _australis_, RIDGWAY, P. A. N. S. Phil. Dec. 1870, 149.

_Hab._ Most of continental South America, except the North Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts, where replaced by the var. _isabellinus_. In Chile and Western Brazil, mixed with, but not replaced by, var. ? _cinnamominus_.

_Adult_ ♂ (20,937, Parana; Coll. of the U. S. Paraguay Exp.). Similar to var. _sparverius_. Head above with the rufous entirely wanting; rufous of the plumage more vinaceous; black bars of the scapulars almost transversely cordate, and nearer the end of the feather; black zone of the tail only .60 of an inch wide. Beneath continuously white, with elliptical spots or streaks of pure black on sides, becoming somewhat circular on the flanks. Wing, 7.70; tail, 5.30; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe, .92; culmen, .48. In all respects, except the points described, resembling the true _sparverius_ of North America, of which it is nothing more than a geographical race, and a not very strongly marked one, though the differences indicated are very constant.

♀ (50,942, Brazil; Sr. Don Fred. Albuquerque). Very similar to _sparverius_; the rufous, equally pale, is, however, more vinaceous; the tail decidedly less rufescent. The black bars are about the same, but on the tail there are thirteen, and the subterminal one is scarcely broader than the rest; the lateral tail-feather has the bars only on inner web, and here almost wanting. Head above as in the male, being without the rufous tinge on the vertex. Beneath yellowish-white, about like _sparverius_; the whole breast and side with numerous longitudinal dashes of deep brown, similar in form to _sparverius_, but of much deeper tint. Inner web of longest primary with twelve transverse bars of white, these scarcely exceeding the dusky ones. Wing-formula, 2, 3–4–1. Wing, 7.80; tail, 5.20; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .95; culmen, .55.