OF THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. 495 
certain respects, especially in the relationship as to colour between young and old, 
B. galapagensis has some affinity to this bird; but structurally B. galapagensis is a 
Buteo, and its divergence from the ordinary typical form is too slight to warrant 
generic separation. 
BUTEO GALAPAGENSIS. 
Polyborus galapagoensis, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 9. 
Craxirex galapagoensis, Gould; Darwin, Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 23, t. ii.; Scl. & Saly. P. Z.S. 
1870, p. 323. 
Buteo galapagensis, Sundey. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 125; Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. p. 119; Sharpe, Cat. Ace. 
p. 170. 
Buteo leucops, G. R. Gray, Hand-list, i. p. 36 (descr. nulla). 
3 ad. (Abingdon Island) fuliginosus unicolor: remigum pogoniis internis grisescenti- 
albidis fusco variegatis, fascias irregulares formantibus: cauda fuliginoso-nigra, rectri- 
cibus mediis griseo, externis, precipue in pogonio interno, albido transfasciatis: tectri- 
cibus caude superioribus griseo et fusco transfasciatis: inferioribus rufescente tinctis: 
iride obscure fulva, pedibus flavis: long. tota 20-0, ale 16-0, caude 8, tarsi 2°9, rostri a 
rictu 1:7. @ mari similis sed major: long. tota 22-0, al 17-0, caude 9:0, tarsi 3-1. 
Jun. supra fuliginosus, fulvo variegatus, dorsi plumis ad basin albis medialiter fusco 
transfasciatis, capitis et colli plumis ad basin albis, medialiter fulvis, fuliginoso terminatis : 
subtus fulvus, fusco precipue in pectore variegatus, ventre et tibiis rufescente magis 
layatis: alis et cauda sicut in ave adulta. 
Hab. Galapagos Islands (Darwin) ; Indefatigable and Abingdon Islands (adel). 
Dr. Habel gives the following remarks respecting this species, which he observed in 
all the islands which he visited. 
“Having obtained both male and female birds in the ochre-coloured plumage with 
dark spots, and also birds of both sexes in plumage of a uniform dusky colour, I 
imagined that they belonged to two distinct species. I was still more confirmed in my 
impression by the different habits observable in the two. The lighter-coloured birds 
are very numerous and form large flocks. The birds are so tame that they cannot be 
frightened away. If you throw a stone at one it avoids it by bending its head or lifting 
upaleg. If hit, it flies but a short way and alights again. They are so tame that one 
can hit them with a stick, and even catch them with the hand. When flying they only 
rise high enough to clear the tops of the bushes and trees. The dark-coloured birds 
are rare, and keep separate from the lighter variety, and far from human intruders. 
*T examined the stomachs of all the specimens obtained: some I found empty; and 
others contained insects, mostly grasshoppers. In the esophagus of a male of the dark 
variety I found a large Scolopendra, of a species common in the islands. It would 
appear therefore that this bird lives chiefly on insects.’—H. 
VOL. IX.—PaRT Ix. May 1876. 3x 
