296 CIRCUS ^RUGINOSUS. 



being' chocolate-brown ; the quills, however, are darker, 

 and the upper part of the head with the occiput is light 

 brownish -red. Sometimes a portion only of the head 

 is of that colour, commonly the fore part and sides, but 

 I have seen the occiput alone so coloured, while the up- 

 per part of the head remained brown. At this period 

 there is no patch of light colour on the wings, but the 

 smaller wing-coverts are tipped with light red ; the tail 

 is uniform, both webs being alike, its tip light red. The 

 bases of the feathers on the occiput and upper part of 

 the hind neck are white, but of all the other feathers 

 grey. As the bird becomes older, the brown of the 

 upper parts assumes a lighter tint ; the tail is tinged 

 with grey, its inner webs are lighter, and variegated or 

 mottled ; the primary quills are darker, and their inner 

 webs at the base lighter; the lower surface of the wings 

 also becomes paler, as well as that of the tail. The 

 festoon of the bill is more distinct in old individuals, 

 the bill itself larger, and especially higher, the toes and 

 claws stonger. 



Remarks. — The moor harrier, as I have already ob- 

 served, is almost a buzzard, and might pass for such 

 without impropriety. Still its form is more slender 

 than that of the birds of the genus Buteo generally, 

 and the ruff, although inconspicuous, is regularly form- 

 ed. The bill is much stronger and deeper than in the 

 two next species, I must confess that the various 

 changes which this species undergoes are not clearly 

 established, although it is evident, on comparing speci- 

 mens, that the Falco rufus and the Falco seruginosus 

 of authors are the same bird. I have seen an indivir 



