332 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology. 



ture of the upper mandible, which has a rounded protuberance to- 

 wards the middle similar to that of the Hawks. They are distin- 

 guished from the rest of theBuzzards by their elevated and slender 

 tarsi) which are covered with feathers for some space below the 

 knee, and of which the acrotarsia are scutellated. The nares are 

 suboval, and transverse on the cere. And the third quill feathers 

 are the longest. It includes the European species, F. mruginosus, 

 Aldrov. and F.pygargus, Linn, to which may be added F. acoli, 

 Daud. F. melanoleucos, Daud. together with some newly described 

 species. 



The present stirps of Buzzards is that which of all theFalconidce 

 approaches nearest to the family of the Strigidw. In their dull and 

 slothful habits, their heavy flight, and indeed their whole appear- 

 ance, these contiguous groups evince a general resemblance that in- 

 dicates a corresponding inferiority in those qualities which belong 

 to the Birds of Prey. The soft and loose texture of the plumage 

 of both presents a similar affinity. The genus immediately before 

 us furnishes us with a still further, and more intimate, point of re- 

 semblance. The feathers that cover the cheeks and ears form a 

 sort of rounded collar that rises on each side of the face ; thus exhi- 

 biting a conformity to the disk or circular erection of the face fea- 

 thers so conspicuous in the Owls. 



From the Buzzards properly so called a group has been separated 

 under the denomination of 



Pernis, Cuv. 

 which is distinguished by the singular character of the lorum, that 

 surrounds the eye, being covered with feathers, instead of being 

 naked as in the other Falconidce, or furnished only with hairs. In 

 other respects also, the genus differs from that of Buteo which fol- 

 lows. Its acrotarsia are reticulated, and like Circus, it has the 

 third quill feather the longest. The nares are similar to those of 

 Buteo. Our Honey Buzzard, F. apivorus, Linn., and a corres- 

 ponding species from Java, F. ptilorynchus, Temm., form the 

 typical species of this genus. 



The true Buzzards known by their comparatively feeble bill, 

 their short tarsi, and scutellated acrotarsia, are comprised in thq 

 genus 



