(ONE-BANDED BUZZARD.)
+Asturina unicincta+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 436 (Mendoza).
+Urubitinga unicincta+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 119; _Gibson,
Ibis_, 1879, p. 411 (Buenos Ayres); _Salvin, Ibis_, 1880, p. 362
(Salta); _Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 469 (Lomas de Zamora).
+Antenor unicinctus+, _Ridgw. N. A. B._ iii. p. 249 (1874).
+Erythrocnema unicincta+, _Sharpe, Cat. B._ i. p. 85.
_Description._--Above black, upper wing-coverts chestnut; upper
tail-coverts white; tail black, concealed base and tip white:
beneath black; thighs deep ferruginous; crissum white: whole length
23·0 inches, wing 14·5, tail 9·5. _Female_ similar, but larger.
_Hab._ North and South America.
This is the Common Buzzard of the Plata region. It differs from the
species previously described in its greater length of wing, and in the
habit of flying near the ground when in search of prey; resembling in
this respect a Harrier, only its flight is slower and more loitering. It
prefers an open country, but on the pampas, like all large Hawks, it
meets with great persecution from the ever-vigilant, fierce-tempered
Spur-winged Lapwing. I once saw one of these Buzzards, while being so
persecuted, make a conquest which greatly surprised me. It was sailing
over the plain, about twenty feet from the surface, harried by several
Lapwings, when suddenly, just as one Lapwing swept downwards past it in
the usual way, apparently missing the head of the Hawk with its sharp
wing-spurs by a hair's breadth, the Buzzard struck at and seized it in
its claws and bore it to the ground. The screams of the captive and its
fellows quickly brought to the spot a cloud of two or three hundred
Lapwings, all hovering and screaming their loudest. I ran to the spot to
aid in the rescue, when seeing me coming the Buzzard rose heavily from
the ground, still carrying the Plover, and flew away beyond reach.