132 BUTEO VULGARIS. 



slightly so on the outer ; the fourth quill is longest, the 

 third next in length, the fifth very little shorter, the 

 second intermediate between the fifth and sixth, the 

 first about three inches shorter than the second, and 

 equal to the eighth. The secondary quills, fifteen in 

 number, are very broad, rounded, and rather long. 

 The tail is ample, of moderate length, and slightly 

 rounded. 



The bill is black, near the cere greyish -blue, its soft 

 edges yellow ; the cere and bare space over the eye 

 greenish-yellow ; the irides yellowish-brown ; the feet 

 bright yellow, the claws like the bill. 



The general colour of the plumage is a fine deep 

 brown, on the back and wings glossy and with purplish 

 reflections. The head and cheeks are deep brown, 

 slightly streaked with yellowish-white, the margins of 

 the feathers being more or less of that colour. On 

 the back and sides of the neck these streaks are 

 more conspicuous, and the bases of the feathers on 

 the upper hind neck are white, that colour becoming 

 apparent only when they are raised. The throat is 

 yellowish- white, with slender streaks of brown. The 

 lower parts may be described as similar to the upper ; 

 but on the lower part of the fore -neck there is more 

 yellowish-white, and on the fore part of the breast 

 many of the feathers are white with several brown cen- 

 tral spots on each. The lower surface of the wing i* 

 mottled in the same manner. The sides and tibial fea- 

 thers are deep brown, more or less mottled with light 

 reddish-brown. The abdomen is barred with brown 

 and white, and the lower tail-coverts are yellowish- 

 white, uiih a spot of pale brown on each. The quilk 



