Letters, Announcements, ^c. 279 



men, which was ascertained by dissection to ])e a male, I 

 think it probable that the present bird is a female ; in its 

 markings and general coloration this example agrees closely 

 with the type, except that it shows indications of more ad- 

 vanced plumage on the feathers of the back and on the lower 

 scapulars, which are slightly tinged with dark grey, also on the 

 primary-coverts, primaries, secondaries, and bastard wing, all 

 of which show more or less of a clear grey colouring crossed 

 with darker transverse bars. 



If I am right in considering this specimen a female, 

 these appearances of incipient grey coloration make it pro- 

 bable that the two sexes in this Harrier (and probably also 

 in the nearly allied C. maillardi) do not differ in plumage 

 when fully adult. 



I now consider that I have examined three Madagascar 

 specimens of Circus macroscelas, of which the following are 

 the principal measurements : — 



Wiug from 



carpal joint. Tarsus, 



in. in. 



Male, immature, type specimen in Norwich 

 Museum, vide Ibis, 18G.3, p. 358, & 1875, 



p. 231 (wings abraded) 15 8-85 



Presumed male, adult, in British Museimi, 

 vide Ibis, 1875, p. 230, and Sharpe iu 



P. Z. S. 1875, p. 73 16-9 355 



Presumed female, immature, iu the collec- 

 tion of E. Newton 17-9 3-9 



A comparison of these measurements with those of the 

 Joanna and Keunion Harriers, which I have previously re- 

 corded [antea, p. 129), leads me to believe that the Mada- 

 gascar and Joanna Harriers are probably identical, whilst 

 those of Reunion are decidedly smaller ; I therefore consider 

 that the specific name of Circus macroscelus may be conve- 

 niently retained for the two first, and that of Circus mail- 

 lardi restricted to the last. 



I am, &c., 



J. H. GURNEY. 



