A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 225 



The Ring-tailed Fishing Eagle is not common in the valley, but 

 a few examples may generally be seen there, except during the 

 winter months. The bird is usually found along the course of 

 the riversj or perched on the branch of a tree near marshy 

 ground. It does not appear to breed in the valley. 



45.— Buteo ferox, Gm. 



Male. — Length, 22'0 ; expanse, 53-5 ; wing, 16-4 ; tail, 9*5 ; 

 tarsas, 3-2 ; tarsus feathered in front, 1-8 ; bill from gape, 

 1'75 ; bill from anterior margin of cere, straight, 0'93 ; depth 

 of closed bill at cere, 0-62 ; length of cere, 0'6 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1*0 ; weight, 21bs. 4-5ozs. 



Bill bluish grey, bluish black at tip ; cere greenish yellow ; 

 gape orange yellow ; iris pure hazel brown ; feet dull deep 

 yellow ; claws horny black. A youngish bird, cream coloui'ed 

 on the underparts, with the exception of the thighs and legs, 

 which are rufous brown ; there is some of this rufous colour 

 also on the flanks. 



This Buzzard is tolerably common in the valley of Nepal 

 during the winter, and in the Tarai and plains at the same 

 season. It is generally seen seated on the edge of a mud cliff 

 or on some low tree, and frequently hunting over wet fields 

 and along small streams. Its flight is very characteristic : 

 four or five rather slow flaps of the wings, then a short sail 

 with the wings rigid and outstretched, and so on. 



47.--Buteo plumipes, Hodgs. 



Female. — Length, 21*2 ; expanse, 50-5 ; wing, 16-35 ; tail, 

 9*7 ; tarsus, 2-75 ; tarsus feathered in front, 1-8 ; bill from 

 gape, r53; bill from anterior margin of cere, 0-92 ; depth 

 of closed bill at cere, 0-62 ; length of cere, 0'48 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1*4 ; mid-toe, 1-65 ; its claw, straight, 0-73 ; 

 inner toe, 1-06 ; its claw, 0*9 ; hind toe, 0'88 ; its claw, 0*95 ; 

 weight, 21bs. 



Bill dark blue, paler bluish grey near nostrils and at 

 base of lower mandible ; cere and gape dull greenish yel- 

 low ; irides hazel brown ; feet ochre yellow ; claws black. 

 An adult female, above dark brown ; the feathers margined with 

 rufous ; whole throat and the breast rich rufous ; upper portion 

 of abdomen, flanks, thighs, and tibial plumes (the latter long 

 and ample, touching the acropodia) dark rufous brown ; middle 

 of belly and vent whitish. 



This handsome Buzzard is found in the valley of Nepal in 

 rather smaller numbers than B. ferox. In its habits it is rather 

 more crepuscular, but otherwise resembles that species. It 

 was observed only during the winter months. 



