368 CIRCUS CYANEUS, 



the lower are smaller, the sides reticulated with subhexagonal 

 scales, the hind part with twelve scutella, and hexagonal scales 

 above and below. The toes are small, the outer connected 

 with the third by a basal w^eb of considerable size ; the first 

 considerably shorter than the second, the fourth a little longer 

 than the latter, the third much longer ; all scutellate above, 

 unless at the base, tuberculate and papillate beneath, there 

 being a long fleshy pad or tubercle on the last joint of each, 

 and one on the next joint of the outer tw^o ; the first toe with 

 six, the second with five, the third with seventeen, the fourth 

 with seven scutella. The claws are long, compressed, rounded 

 above, flat beneath, curved in the fourth of a circle, tapering 

 to a fine point ; those of the first and second toes largest, that 

 of the third with a thin internal edge. Fig. 232. 



Plumage very soft, blended, somewhat compact on the wings 

 and back; otherwise as described in the generic character. The 

 wings are long, broad, and much rounded ; the fourth quill 

 longest, the third two-twelfths of an inch shorter, the second 

 an inch shorter than the third, and the first two inches and a 

 half shorter than the second, and about equal to the seventh. 

 The first five have their outer webs attenuated toward the end, 

 and the first four are sinuate on the inner webs ; the secondary 

 quills broad and rounded. The tail is long, straight, of mode- 

 rate breadth, nearly even, the lateral feathers being about 

 three-fourths of an inch shorter than the longest. 



The bill is bluish-black, the cere yellow, the inside of the 

 mouth dark bluish-grey ; the iris yellow ; the tarsi and toes 

 orange-yellow, the claws black. The general colour of the 

 plumage is light greyish- blue ; the head and scapulars of a 

 deeper tint ; the hind part of the back paler, the upper tail- 

 coverts white, as are the bases of the occipital feathers. The 

 outer six primaries are black, on the outer web tinged with 

 grey, but at the base white ; the rest and the secondaries of 

 the general colour on their outer webs, but on the inner whitish 

 and obscurely mottled with dark grey. The middle feathers of 

 the tail are of a lighter tint than the back, and the rest gradually 

 become paler until the outer web of the lateral becomes white ; 

 the inner webs of all but the two middle white, with eight 



