BUTEO FEROX 101 



rather darker and more streaked with rufous-brown; abdomen, sides and 

 flanks still darker rufous-brown ; crissum and under tail-coverts creamy- 

 white. 



Iris hazel ; bill slate ; cere and feet yellowish. 



Total length 24 inches, wing 18-50, culmen 1-60, tarsus 3-60. 



Adult female, similar to the male, but rather larger. 



Of this large Buzzard I have but two specimens from Tunisia, for 

 one of which I am indebted to my friend Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor, 

 who happened to see it amongst Blanc's birds in Tunis and kindly 

 informed me of the fact. The other example in my collection was 

 also obtained from Blanc. Both appear to have been secured in the 

 neighbourhood of the town of Tunis. 



Dr. Koenig also obtained a specimen of B.ferox from Blanc (J. f. 0. 

 1888, p. 158), but the species is probably not common in the Kegency 

 or in any part of North-west Africa, although Bonaparte, Malherbe, 

 and other authors have mentioned its occurrence in the country. 

 The species is indeed an Eastern one, its habitat proper being in 

 South-east Europe, North-east Africa, and a portion of the Asiatic 

 Continent. It has, however, occurred occasionally in Italy, and 

 specimens of it, obtained chiefly from the south of the Peninsula, 

 Sicily and Sardinia, are to be found in collections. 



In France, also, the species is stated to have occurred occasionally, 

 though rarely. 



In its habits the present species is said to resemble the Common 

 Buzzard, but as it appears to be essentially a denizen of the plains 

 and steppes, it probably resembles more closely the African or Desert 

 Buzzard. Canon Tristram, writing of the birds of Palestine, calls 

 B. ferox the Buzzard of that country, and says that the species is 

 gregarious in winter, segregating in pairs in spring. 



Like other Buzzards the present species feeds on small mammals, 

 reptiles and insects, and, in marshy districts, on frogs. 



