130 



BUTEO VULGARIS. 



COMMON BUZZARD. 



Of the old birds, the general colour deep brovrn,. 

 the feathers on the upper parts margined with paler, 

 the lower parts variegated with brownish-white, the 

 tail marked with numerous transverse bands of dark 

 brown and brownish-grey; the cere greenish-yellow, 

 the tarsi feathered anteriorly, nearly half-way down ; 

 and with the toes yellow; the bill and claws black. Of 

 the young, the feathers more or less margined with 

 whitish, the lower parts lighter than in the old birds ; 

 the upper part of the hind neck with the basal white of 

 the feathers more conspicuous. 



Male — The Common Buzzard has a less animated 

 appearance than the Golden Eagle, to which, however, 

 it bears a considerable resemblance. Its body is full 

 and compact, its head very large and flattened above, 

 its neck short, its plumage full, its wings long, and when 

 closed, extending nearly to the end of its broad and 

 slightly rounded tail. Its tarsi, which are strong and 

 roundish, are feathered anteriorly and on the sides more 

 than a third down ; their bare part has eleven broad 

 scutella anteriorly, a similar series of thirteen behind, 

 and the sides covered with angular scales. The ante- 

 rior series of scutella terminates without reaching the 

 joint, the fore-part of v/hich is covered with small 



