BUZZARD. 127 



middle, at the lower part having a glandular enlarge- 

 ment or proventriculus. Stomach oblong, its muscular 

 coat thin ; intestine widest at its commencement, near- 

 ly uniform in diameter for two-thirds of its length, with 

 two small capca near the extremity. 



Nostrils broadly elliptical, oblique, lateral, near the 

 fore-edge of the cere. Eyes large ; eyelids edged 

 with bristly feathers, the upper overhung by a thin 

 projecting plate. Aperture of the ear roundish, rather 

 large. 



Head large, flat above ; neck short and strong ; body 

 full, broad and muscular anteriorly; wings long. Legs 

 of moderate length, strong ; tibiae rather long, and mus- 

 cular ; tarsi strong, roundish, feathered partially or en- 

 tirely, in the former case having broad scutella before 

 and behind, the sides covered with reticulated angular 

 scales, the tarsal joint scaly. Toes of moderate size, 

 the outer with a pretty large web at the base con- 

 necting it with the third ; first and second about equal 

 in length and thickness, third much longer, fourth 

 rather longer, but more slender, than the second ; all 

 scaly at the base, but covered above with numerous 

 scutella in the rest of their length, beneath tuberculate 

 and papillate. Claws long, curved, tapering, acute, con- 

 vex above, compressed, flat beneath, those of the first 

 and second toes largest, that of the middle toe with an 

 inner sharp edge. 



Plumage soft, but compact and rather glossy above, 

 the margins loose. Cere nearly bare ; space between 

 the bill and eye covered with radiating, very small, 

 bristle-pointed feathers, having downy disunited barbs. 

 Feathers of the head narrow and pointed, of the ne^k 



