216 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxii. 



lowish green; gape yellow; feet yellow; claws black; irides dark 

 brown. Length, 21| inches." 



n. Male immature, December 25, 1895. Almost exactly like p, but 

 forehead very dark; under tail-coverts nearly all rufous; gray of tail 

 replaced wholly by rufous ; black tail bars very much broken, and to 

 some extent obsolete, the subterminal black bar narrow. "Bill black, 

 bluish horny at base; cere dull horny green; feet yellow; claws black; 

 irides dark brown. Length, 20f inches; weight, 34 ounces. Crop full 

 of frogs." 



o. Female immature December 8, 1895. Very pale buff below, with 

 hair-like shaft lines on throat, wider streaks on breast, and still broader 

 markings of brown on sides of abdomen; much reddish brown on 

 thighs; under tail-coverts buff'y white; upper parts light sandy brown, 

 the feathers with dark centers and yet darker shaft lines; superior tail- 

 coverts with a slight tinge of rufous; tail dusky gray, with lighter 

 interspaces and no broad subterminal dark bar. " Bill black, blue at 

 base; cere and gape pale yellowish green; feet yellow; claws black; 

 irides pale straw color. Length, 23| inches. Stomach contained remains 

 of a large rat {JSfeosocia hengalensis)^^ 



p. Female immature, December 18, 1895. Under parts with a strong 

 wash of rusty ; throat and breast with narrow streaks of dark brown, 

 and larger markings on abdomen; thighs and sides of body very dark 

 brown, the feathers bordered with rufous; nape with a black and 

 rusty spot; back and head deep brown, most of the feathers with broad 

 margins and tips of buff'y, though some with rufous edgings; upper 

 tail-coverts dark brown, the feathers with ochraceous tips; tail with 

 a considerable rufous wash, the dark bars nearly obliterated on the 

 central and on some of the lateral rectrices. " Bill black, base horny 

 blue; cere greenish; feet yellow; claws black; irides brown. Length, 

 24 inches. Stomach contained remains of mice." 



q. Female immature, December 22, 1895. Very light below, like o, 

 but brown spots on abdomen heavier and more numerous ; tail much 

 lighter, with its dark bars narrower and with no broad subterminal 

 bar. ''Bill black, base horny blue; cere pale yellowish green; gape 

 dull yellow; feet yellow; claws black; irides grayish white. Length, 

 24 inches; weight, 34 ounces. Stomach contained remains of frogs 

 and mice." 



r. Female immature, December 24, 1895. Eufescent below, as in p, 

 but streaks on throat broader; breast and abdomen with conspicuous 

 dark spots; thighs very dark; top of head deep brown, but nape light; 

 upjjer tail-coverts with broad rufous tips, as in p; light interspaces on 

 tail grayish white with very little rufous, the dark bars almost 

 V-shaped. "Bill black, base horny blue; cere dull horny green; feet 

 yellow; claws black; irides i)ale mottled brown. Length, 20 inches; 

 weight, 3 pounds. Stomach contained a mouse." 



The changes of plumage in this species are not a little puzzling. 



