OWLS AND DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 363 
Burro DESERTORUM (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 393). 
BuTEO PLUMIPES (Legge, p. 31). 
The Common Buzzard. 
Description.—Colour variable, either dark or pale brown, 
with more or less noticeable shaft-streaks ; the feathers of the 
crown, nape, and hind-neck with white bases ; sides of the 
neck whitish with dark brown streaks, including a dark 
moustache-stripe and a band running backwards from the 
eye ; the primaries have black-brown ends. a large portion of 
the inner web is white, the under surface of the quills is also 
white, except at the tip; secondaries brown above, with the 
inner webs partly white or rufous, underneath whitish with 
dark gray ends and cross bands ; tail brown or rufous above, 
whitish below, with more or less distinct bars. Lower parts 
white or buff, the throat streaked with brown, the breast and 
abdomen also broadly streaked, or at times almost covered 
with brown. 
Some birds are brown almost throughout. 
Bill black, bluish-gray at the base ; cere yellow ; iris brown; 
legs and feet yellow. 
Females: length about 20; wing 15; tail 8-9; tarsus 
about 2°8, but rather variable ; mid-toe without claw 1:5: 
bill from gape 1:40. Males smaller ; wing about 14. 
Distribution.—An extremely rare straggler to the Island, 
only recorded twice or thrice. It occurs throughout the 
greater part of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is resident in the 
Himalayas, visiting the peninsula of India in the winter. 
Habits, &c.—Rather like those of a Harrier. It quarters 
over marshes and bare lands hunting for mice, frogs, lizards, 
and insects. It is rather sluggish and solitary, and during the 
heat of the day generally perches on a low tree or bush, or on 
the ground. 
Group V1I.—Hawks. 
The three typical Hawks found in Ceylon are all of small 
size. They are to be met with mainly in forest or in well- 
wooded localities. As a group they are distinguished by their 
short, rounded wings and long tarsi. The bill is short and 
