BUTEONIN^. 91 



it the same as Hodgson's Aquila sti'ophiata, which Horsfield gives 

 as synonymous Avith Aqiiila pennata. 



47. Buteo plumipes, Hodgson. 



Eeng. Sport. Mag. 1836, p. 182.~J. A. S. XV., 2— P. Z. S. 



1845, p. 37. 



The Haeeier Buzzaed. 



Descr. — ' Dusky brown throughout, as in the moor buzzard; lores 

 albescent ; tail vaguely rayed paler ; wings do. internally ; of a 

 slender make, circine ; claws long, acute ; cere and legs greenish 

 yellow ; bill blue. Length 19^ inches ; tail 9; tarsus 3. From the 

 central region of Nepal.' 



It does not appear that specimens of this bird exist in any of 

 our Museums. It is somewhat similar in color to the Marsh 

 Harrier. It is not unlikely the adult female of Blyth's Buteo 

 pygmceus,J. A. S. XIV., from Tenasserim, which has a very circine 

 make and aspect. This is certainly an osculant form, having the 

 bill and wings of Circus, with the short feet of a Buzzard. If it 

 be not the same as Hodgson's species, it will probably, with it, form 

 a new division among the Buzzards, leading to the Harriers. 



Several species of true Buzzard are found in Africa. Other 

 species of this sub-family are found in America ; but some of these 

 belong to slightly different types. 



Gen. POLIORNIS, Kaup. 



Syn. Butastur, Hodgson. 



Char. — Bill rather short, gradually bending from the base; edge of 

 mandible scarcely festooned; nostrils rather small, pyriform ; wings 

 long, reaching nearly to the end of tail, which is moderate and 

 slightly rounded ; 3rd and 4th quills nearly equal and longest, the 

 four first quills emarginate ; legs and feet moderate, stout ; anterior 

 scuta of tarsus large ; feet short, upper surface covered with large 

 broad scales ; inner toe, without the claw, shorter than the 

 outer one. 



This genus is certainly very close to Buteo. Horsfield places it, 

 as Gray did formerly, among the Acciintrina ; Gray in the Aqui- 



