(SPOT-WINGED FALCON.)
+Falco circumcinctus+, _Scl. Ibis_, 1862, p. 23, pl. ii.
+Spiziapteryx circumcinctus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 122;
_White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 623 (Catamarca); _Sharpe, Cat. B._ i.
p. 371. +Falco punctipennis+, _Burm. J. f. O._ 1860, p. 242.
+Hemiiërax circumcinctus+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 438.
_Description._--Above brown, with black shaft-stripes; head black,
with brown stripes and white superciliaries, which join round the
nape, forming an ill-defined nuchal band; rump pure white; wings
black, with white oval spots on the outer and white bars on the
inner webs; tail black, all the lateral rectrices crossed by five or
six broad white bars: beneath white, breast regularly striped with
narrow black shaft stripes; bill plumbeous, lower mandible yellow,
except at the tip; feet greenish, nails black: whole length 11
inches, wing 6·5, tail 5·0. _Female_ similar, but rather larger.
_Hab._ Argentina.
This small Hawk is sometimes met with in the woods of La Plata, near the
river; it is rare, but owing to its curious violent flight, with the
short blunt wings rapidly beating all the time, it is very conspicuous
in the air and well known to the natives, who call it _Rey de los
Pajaros_ (King of the Birds), and entertain a very high opinion of its
courage and strength. I have never seen it taking its prey, and do not
believe that it ever attempts to capture anything in the air, its short
blunt wings and peculiar manner of flight being unsuited for such a
purpose. Probably it captures birds by a sudden dash when they mob it on
its perch; and I do not know any raptor more persistently run after and
mobbed by small birds. I once watched one for upwards of an hour as it
sat on a tree attended by a large flock of Guira Cuckoos, all excitedly
screaming and bent on dislodging it from its position. So long as they
kept away five or six feet from it the Hawk remained motionless, only
hissing and snapping occasionally as a warning; but whenever a Cuckoo
ventured a little nearer and into the charmed circle, it would make a
sudden rapid dash and buffet the intruder violently back to a proper
distance, returning afterwards to its own stand.