THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



1003 



This Buzzard undoubtedly breeds all over the 

 Himalayas, though 1 can find no record of its nest 

 ever having been taken in this country. I cannot 

 remember ever having seen the melanistic phase of 

 plumage of this species, though it is so common 

 with the other {B. ferox), though a dark brown phase 

 of plumage is by no means rare, but not the dark 

 chocolate brown, almost black, of ferox. 



The nest and eggs are said to be similar to those 

 of B. ferox, though I presume, a trifle smaller. 



Genus Pernis. 



No. 1:349. Perni-s cristatus. The Crested Honey-Buzzard. 



Characteristics. 



Colouration. 



Measurements. 

 Habits, etc. 



Size medium ; bill weak and elongate ; lores and 

 sides of head covered with small scale like feathers, 

 like forehead and chin, and unlike all other birds of 

 prey. 



Very variable. Generally ashy grey from chin, 

 and forehead to ear coverts, all round, i.e., all the 

 small scale like feathers. Thence passing into a 

 grey brown or light brown on the neck and back. 



The feathers frequently have very dark shaft- 

 stripes. The whole upper surface of the bird, with 

 wings extended, is brown or grey-brown and occa- 

 sionally almost quite grey with a faint touch of 

 brown only. Sometimes a bird may be seen with 

 the whole of the head a very pale grey, but this is 

 uncommon. Tail blackish-brown, with two bands, 

 one much narrower than the other, greyish-brown. 

 A narrow tip to tail feathers also greyish-brown, 

 sometimes almost white. 



The under surface is much lighter and is often 

 irregularly spotted or banded with white. The 

 lower surface of the wing when open is a very pale 

 brown, almost white, with blackish bands. The tips 

 of the primary quills black. A small crest of black 

 feathers is usually present. 



The plumage from the young to the adult varies 

 a good deal, but the curious feeble bill and the 

 small scale like feathers, instead of bristles, on the 

 lores are enough in themselves to recognise this 

 species by. 



" Bill blackish, gape and base of lower mandible 

 bluish ; cere deep leaden colour ; iris golden yellow, 

 brownish-yellow or red ; legs and feet yellow." 

 (Blanford.) 



Length 25" to 27", though occasionally larger or 

 smaller specimens may be found. Wing 15^" to 

 17i"; tail 10^" to 12^"; tarsus 2" ; expanse 4' to 4f.' 



This species is pretty well distributed all over the 

 Punjab in suitable localities, but does not occur in 

 the higher ranges of the Himalayas, and is not likely 

 to be found much over 4 to 5 thousand feet above 

 sea level. Found in most groves and gardens and 

 along most of the canal banks and it breeds 

 wherever it is found. 



