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Show 1869.] MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON THE ASTURINAE. 129 Eos cardinalis, Bonap. Compt. Rend. 1857; G. R. Gray, List Spec. Brit. M u s . Psittac. (1859) p. 53. Eos unicolor, part, Wall. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 291. Eos cardinalis, G. R. Gray, B. of Trop. Isl. p. 31. Domicella cardinalis, Finsch, Papageien, ii. (1868) p. 785. Head and nape deep crimson, the under parts of the same colour but lighter, and each feather pale orange-yellow-margined at the end, giving a somewhat undulated appearance; the under tail-coverts uniform crimson; back and other upper parts purplish brownish red, darkest on the shoulders and quill-coverts, lighter and more crimson on the rump and upper tail-coverts; on the mantle some feathers with narrow obsolete yellow margins; primaries on the outer web reddish brown, with olive-yellow lustre in certain lights; on the inner web dark reddish brown ; secondaries brownish red, like the back, the tail-feathers also; quills and tail-feathers beneath brownish red, in some light shining red. Bill orange; cere, a naked ring round the mandible, and the con - siderably extended naked orbits black; legs and claws blackish. Long. corp. 11|", al. 6" 4'", rectr. intern. 5" 5'", rectr. ext. 3", culm. 9'", alt. rost. ad basin 9'", tars. 9'" (French meas.). Hab. Solomon Islands. 3. Notes on the Species of the Genus Asturina. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and O S B E R T SALVIN, M.A., F.L.S. Recent investigations having convinced us that there is still much confusion amongst the American species of Hawks of the genus Asturina, we beg leave to submit to the Society the following notes upon the subject. The genus Asturina, founded by Vieillot in 1816 upon his Asturina cinerea (Falco nitidus, Lath.), embraces a small series of A m e rican birds closely resembling Buteo in structure, but in habits more nearlv approaching Accipiter. The most noticeable difference between Asturina and Buteo consists in the shorter wings of the former; but in this respect Buteo pennsylvanicus (which has the habits of Asturina) is nearly intermediate between the two genera. Putting this bird aside for the present, we have left seven species of true Asturina, which may be separated into three groups, as follows :- (1) The species allied to A. nitida, of which there appear to be two representative forms,-one occupying Central America and Mexico, which has been named A. plagiata; the other the true A. nitida, which, commencing its range at Panama, extends itself over the greater part of tropical South America. (2) The species allied to A. magnirostris, which is the type of the genus Rupornis of Kaup. These are four in number, each PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1869, No. IX. |
