269 
cation I merely follow Mr. Gurney, admittedly the best autho- 
rity in such matters. I quote his remarks on the subject from 
the Ibis. (1862, p. 361.) 
‘“‘T have myself no doubt that the “ Tachard” of Le Vaillant, 
and consequently the Buteo Tachardus of Daudin, is identical 
with Pernis apivorus, a species which I have twice received from 
the colony of Natal.” 
Most ornithologists have erroneously attributed the name of 
Buteo tachardus of Daudin, to the Lesser Buzzard of South 
Africa, for which M. Des Murs now suggests the new specific 
appellation of Butco delalandi. This is, as it seems to me, 
unnecessary ; for I cannot but think, that this small Buzzard is 
the “Rougri” of Le Vaillant, (Buteo desertorum of Daudin,) 
the description and figure of which appear to me to agree with 
the species now under consideration in all points except one, 
namely, that the cere and bill are both described as yellow, 
instead of the cere only. But may not this have been a mere 
lapsus calami of the author, copied by the artist into his draw- 
ing, which was probably made trom a skin, of which the bill 
was faded, or (as is frequently the case in skins, brought from 
hot countries) in which the horny covering of the upper mandi- 
ble had shelled off ? 
Such at least seems to me the probability, and with that 
view, I consider the small Buzzard of South Africa, as entitled 
to the specific name desertorun. 
M. Des Murs expresses a strong opinion, that the small 
Buzzard of South Africa, is specifically distinct, from that of 
North - Africa, (Buteo Cirtensis of the “ Exploration de I 
Algerie,”) but the only difference I can perceive between them 
is, that the South African bird is usually less rufous, and is 
somewhat paler on the breast, which are hardly suflicient 
grounds for a specific distinction. 
The geographical range of Buteo Cirtensis, (even if it be 
distinct from its South African Congener) is still very extensive, 
with brown. Thighs rufous, faintly blotched with fulvous. Vent feathers 
pale fulvous. Length 1’ 8” ; wing, 14” ; tail, 7.” Ivides yellow.” Fully adult 
birds become throughout, of a deep rufous brown, blotched with dark mark- 
ings. In this stage they constitute Le Vaillaint’s species, called Le Rougri, 
Ois d’ Af, Pl. 17.” 
I may add that a particularly fine male, unquestionably B. Desertorum, 
from South Africa, now in Colonel Tytler’s museum, measured—Length 
22, wing. 14°5, tail 8°38, tarsus 2°5, feathered in front for one inch. In 
plumage it greatly resembled some of our Himalayan birds, but, was much 
smaller than any of these. Personally, I feel by no means satisfied that our 
‘Indian bird is Desertorum. 
