212 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



with brown and umber. Dimensions, 1.72 X 1.45. JVo. 2. Ground-color 

 same as No. 1. Two large irregular blotches of dark brown and umber on 

 the larger end, with smaller confluent blotches and streaks of the same, 

 covering nearly the entire surface of that end ; smaller end much more 

 sparsely spotted with the same. Dimensions, 1.76 X 1-40. A^o. 3. Ground- 

 color dirty brown. The entire egg, except the small end, covered with a 

 washing of dark brown, which forms dark irregular blotches at various 

 points, as if the egg had been painted and then taken in the fingers before 

 drying. Dimensions, 1.55 X 1.55. 



Genus CIRCUS, Lacepede. 



Circus, Laci^p. 1800, 1801. (Type, Falco ccniginosus, Linn.) 



Pygargus, Koch, 1816. (Same type. ) 



Strigiceps, Bonap. 1831. (Type, Falco cyaneus, Linn.) 



Glaucoptcryx, Kaup, 1844. (Type, Falco cineraccus, MoNT.) 



SpilociTcus, Kaup, 1847. (Type, Circtis jar dint, Gould.) 



Ptcrocircus, Kaup, 1851. (Same type. ) 



Spizacireus and Spiziacircim, Kaup, 1844 and 1851. (Type, Circus macroiJterus, ViEiLL. ) 



GrEN. Char. Form very slender, the wings and tail very long, the head small, bill 

 weak, and feet slender. Face surrounded by a ruff of stiff, compact feathers, as in the Owls 



1042, ° 



Cirnis /nidsnnins. 



(nearly obsolete in some species). Bill weak, much compressed; the upper outline of the 

 cere greatly ascending basally, and arched posteriorly, the commissure with a faint lobe ; 

 nostril oval, horizontal. Loral bristles fine and elongated, curving upwards, their ends 

 reaching above the top of the cere. Superciliary shield small, but prominent. Tarsus 

 more than twice the middle toe, slender, and with perfect frontal and posterior continuous 

 series of reojular transverse scutellfe ; toes slender, the outer longer than the inner ; claws 



