66 BIRDS OF PREY. 



F. fulvus, the whole of the first 5 are shortened : so that this char- 

 acter appears to advance with the age of the bird to a certain limit. 

 Tail of a deep grey, banded somewhat regularly with blackish- 

 brown, and terminated, towards the point, by a wide band of the 

 same color. Bill horn color. Iris always brown. Cere and feet 

 yellow. 



Length about 3 feet. The female as much as 3 feet 6 inches. 



In the young, of the first or second year, the whole plumage is of 

 a ferruginous brown or clear reddish-yellow, with the under tail- 

 coverts whitish ; the inner side of the legs and femorals pure white ; 

 the tail white for | of its length, the rest brown. Nearly all tlie 

 feathers are white towards their base. As the young advances in age, 

 the plumage becomes browner, the white of the tail lessens in ex- 

 tent, and appearances of transverse bars commence. — Very rarely, 

 individuals occur almost wholly white. 



