AVES. 549 



Sp. Buteo vulgaris Bechst., Falco hufeo L., Buff. PI, enl. 519, Naum. 

 Taf. 32, 33, SosEM. Voff. Eur. Taf. 33 ; the common buzzard, la huse com- 

 mttne, der 3Iaiisebussard ; legs and cere yellow, tail with about twelve 

 transverse dark bars, the general colour mostly brown yet with very many 

 individual differences; this falcon feeds on moles, mice, rats, frogs, &c., 

 and is disjjersed over a large part of Western Europe. In North America 

 different species of this sub-genus are found. 



Astur Bechst. Bill short, curved, compressed; upper mandible 

 with obsolete, rounded tooth. Nostrils placed near the culmen of 

 bill, oval, oblique or horizontal. Wings with first quill short, 

 fourth, or fourth and fifth longest of all. Tail elongate, far sur- 

 passing the points of wings, mostly even. Tarsi long, scutellate 

 anteriorly. 



Nisus Cuv., Accijjiter Briss., Gray. Tarsi slender, plumed below 

 the heel only, with scutes often obsolete or confluent. 



Sp. Astur Nlsus, Falco Nisus L., Buff. PI. enl. 412, 467, Naum. Taf. 19, 

 SusEM. Vbg. Eur. Taf. 29; the sparrow-hawTc, Vepervier, der Finhen- 

 Hahicht, der Sperher; iris and legs yellow; breast and belly white, with 

 red-brown, sinuous, transverse streaks ; the adult bird bluish-gi-ay above. 

 A generally dispersed species of Europe, North Africa, and a part of 

 Africa. In Eussia Seveeow has found a bird which, by its longer wings, 

 shorter feet, and some other slight differences, is separated as a distinct 

 species from Falco Nisus, under the name of Astur irevipes. Bullet, de la 

 Soc. imp. des Natur. de Moscou, 1850, 11. pp. 234 — 239, PI. i. — lii. Some 

 species of this form are found in all parts of the world. 



Geranospiza Kaup., Ischnoscelis Strickl. 



Astur Bechst. (et recentior.). Tarsi stronger, plumed nearly in 

 the upper third. 



Sp. Astur palumharius Bechst., Falco palmnbarius (and gentiUs) L., Buff. 

 PI. enl. 413 (461 and 423 younger), Naum. Taf. 17, 18, Susem. Vog. Eur. 

 Taf. 28 ; the gos-haivh, Vautour, der Hahicht. Of this form also species 

 are met with in all parts of the world, especially in Australia, where 

 amongst others an entirely white species has been observed, which Sal. 

 Mueller met also at New Guinea : Falco novos Hollandice Gm., White 

 New South Wales, PI. 35, p. 250. 



Note. — Here are to be inserted some genera of modern writers : 

 Melierax Gray, Asturina Vieill., Kaup, &c., on which cons. Gray 

 Gen. of Birds, i. 



Morphnus Cuv. 



Thrasa'etus Gray, Harpyia Cuv. 



