Buteo (Onychotes) solitarius. 23 



was led to a further investigation of the subject^ which 

 resulted in his being convinced that these two names had 

 in fact been assigned to one and the same species. 



Mr. Eidgway published the conclusion at which he arrived, 

 and the data which led to it^ in the ' Proceedings ' of the 

 United-States National Museum for 1885, p. 36. 



The Editors of ' The Ibis/ at p. 450 of the volume for 1885, 

 announced and accepted the conclusion at which Mr. Ridgway 

 had arrived, and as to the correctness of which there can, I 

 think, be no possible doubt. 



Mr. Ridgway, in his paper above referred to, expresses the 

 opinion that 'Hhe genus or subgenus Onychotes .... is 

 tenable" for the present species, and gives a diagnosis in 

 support of that view ; but ray own feeling is that the Hawaiian 

 Buzzard does not differ sufficiently from other members of 

 the genus Buteo to make it needful to refer it to a distinct 

 subgenus. It is of very similar dimensions to Buteo pennsyl- 

 vanicus, and their proportions, though different, do not differ 

 very greatly, as may be seen by the annexed comparative 

 measurements (in inches and decimals) of an adult of each 

 of these two species ; but I ought to add that I believe the 

 sexes of the specimens measured are different, B. solitarius 

 being probably a male, and B. jiennsylvanicus a female. 



Culraen Middle toe Claw of Hind toe Claw of 



Cere, without Wing. Tail. Tarsus, without middle without hind 

 cere. claw. toe. claw. toe. 



?. solitarius -30 -95 10-75 6 :>0 280 170 -80 -70 1-.30 



1 2}ennst/lvaniais . . -20 -75 11-30 6-40 2-QO 1-35 -05 -70 1-10 



If I am correct in my view as to the normal immature and 

 adult plumages oi Buteo solitarius, the following list will 

 enumerate the specimens now existing in diflPerent English 

 and American collections so far as I am acquainted with 

 them : — 



Nestling in down. 



One specimen collected by and in the possession of Mr. 

 Scott B. Wilson. 



First year's plumage {normar). 

 Type specimen of Buteo solitarius in the collection of the 



