285 
No. 46. ? Buteo Asiaticus, LATHAM. 
Buteo Aquilinus 
Hopeson. 
Butaquila Leucocephata. 
? Buteo Hemilasius, ScHLEGEL (Fauna Japonica, Aves, Tab. 7.y 
Tue Urztanp Buzzarp. 
This species is so excessively rare, that no specimen of it 
exists, I believe, in India, and only one has, as far as I can ascer- 
tain, ever been sent from this country. Not only isit a rare, 
but also to my mind a very doubtful species. 
Dr. Jerdon, in his description, follows Blyth, J. A. 8. XIV. 
176, almost verbatim, he only omits to note the length of the 
bill from gape, which Blyth gives as 2°12, and to state that the 
dark bars on the tail “ a/ternate on the two webs’ (misprinted 
shafts) ‘“‘ of each feather.” 
The following were Mr. Blyth’s remarks on the single speci- 
men above referred to. Dr. Jerdon of course never saw the bird. 
“This bird might be mistaken, on a cursory view, for a va~ 
riety of B. Canescens, J. A. 8. XII. 308, were it not for its 
half-feathered tarsi ; and the beak also, is larger, and more aqui- 
line, so that the name is felicitously bestowed. It is by no 
means a common species in Nepal, as I learned from Mr. 
Hodgson’s people, and as might be inferred from the cireum- 
stance of Mr. Hodgson’s requiring the only specimen he had 
sent, to take with him to England. Not improbably, it may 
prove identical with the Falco asiaticus of Latham, described as 
nearly similar to the European Buzzard, in the colour of its 
body and wings ; the under parts white, with stripes on the breast, 
tail silver grey, the outer feather marked by obscure bars; bill 
bluish black, and legs yellow and half feathered. Length twen- 
ty-two inches. Inhabits China. From the circumstance of its 
partiaily feathered tarsi, it might be presumed, that the present 
species would fall under the division Archibuteo of Brehm, but 
the general character of the bird is not that of the ‘ Rough- 
legged Buzzard’ of Northern regions.” 
Lhave obtained specimens of b. Feroz, pertaining to the dark 
form, answering very closely to Blyth’s description, especially 
where the tail is concerned. The differences dwelt on by Blyth are, 
it will be observed, the pluming anteriorly of half the tarsus and 
the larger and more aquiline bill. As regards the former, I find 
