BLACK WARRIOR. 443 



pressed, scutellate before and behind, reticularly scaly on the sides ; toes 

 scutellate above, scaly on the sides, tubercular and scabrous beneath ; 

 claws curved, roundish, very acute. 



Plumage compact, feathers of the head and neck short and rounded, 

 tibial feathers elongated and loose at the tips. Wings long ; first quill 

 short, fourth longest, third and fifth equal, the first primaries cut out on 

 the inner web towards the end. Tail longish, ample, of twelve broad, 

 rounded feathers. 



Bill hght blue, black towards the end ; cere and angles of the mouth 

 yellowish-green. Iris light yellowish-brown. Feet dull greenish-yellow, 

 claws black. 



The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown, the un- 

 der parts lighter, the feathers there being margined with light brown. 

 Tail lighter than the back, and rather narrowly barred with brownish- 

 black, the tips brownish-red. Under wing-coverts whitish, spotted with 

 deep brown. 



Length 21 inches, extent of wings 45 ; bill along the back 1^, along 

 the gap, from the tip of the lower mandible, l^ ; tarsus If. 



Adult Female. Plate LXXXVI. Fig. 2. 



The female resembles the male in external appearance. 



Length 22 inches ; bill along the back 1^. 



This species bears a strong resemblance to the Common Buzzard 

 {Falco Buteo) of Europe, from which, however, it differs in having the 

 head broader, the legs stouter, and the general colour of the plumage 

 darker. It is also considerably larger. 



