MARSH HAWK. 405 
line ascending and convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip rounded, 
with the edges decurved. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, in the middle 
and fore part of the cere, and having an oblique ridge from the upper 
edge. 
Head of moderate size, oblong ; neck short ; body slender, much 
compressed behind. Legs long and slender ; tibia long but muscular ; 
tarsi long, compressed, with seventeen or eighteen large oblique scu- 
tella on the fore and outer side, oval or subhexagonal scales on the 
sides, and scutella behind, excepting at the upper and lower parts ; 
toes small, slender, the outer with a short web at the base, connecting 
it with the third ; first considerably shorter than second, fourth a little 
longer than the latter, third much longer ; all covered above with scu- 
tella, unless at the base, where there are small scales, beneath tuber- 
culate and papillate, there being a long fleshy tubercle on the last joint 
of each toe, and one on the next joint of the two outer. Claws long, 
compressed, rounded above, flat beneath, curved into the fourth of a 
circle, those of the first and second toes largest, that of the third with 
a slight internal edge, of the fourth much smaller and less curved. 
Plumage very soft, generally blended. Cere covered on the sides 
with rather long bristle-tipped feathers, which curve upwards and par- 
tially conceal the nostrils; space between the bill and eye with radi- 
ating feathers of the same nature. A distinct ruff of narrow feathers, 
which are decurved, but with the tips recurved, extends from behind 
the eye on each side to the chin. Wings long, much rounded; the 
fourth quill longest, the third two-twelfths of an inch shorter, the se- 
cond a quarter of an inch shorter than the fifth, the first and seventh 
about equal. ‘The outer webs of the first five are attenuated towards 
the end; and the outer four have their inner webs sinuate; the se- 
condaries are broad and rounded. ‘Tail straight, long, of moderate 
breadth, and slightly rounded, the middle feathers longest (in perfect 
specimens, but often worn). The quills and tail-feathers are extremely 
soft, being covered with a velvety down. 
Bill bluish-black, cere yellow; inside of mouth dark bluish-grey. 
Iris yellow. ‘Tarsi and toes yellow, tinged with orange ; claws black. 
The general colour of the plumage above is liglit greyish-blue, the 
head and scapulars of a deeper tint, the hind part of the back paler ; 
the bases of the occipital and ruff feathers white; the bristles of the 
cere and lores black, their downy bases white. ‘The fore neck and 
