220 



BIRDS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



bushy islands left in the open savannahs by the hioh water, to 

 which the various animals on which they feed have been driven 

 for shelter. Thev are crracef'ul lookincj birds while on the wino;, 

 but they alight in a very awkward manner, their wings and tail 

 being more or less expanded at first to prevent them from over- 

 balancing as they settle on the branch. This is the first record of 

 the species from the Colony.'' 



Genus MICRASTUR Gray. 



JUicrastur Gray, List Genera of Birds, 2nd ed. p. 6, 1841. T^-joe 

 M. hrachypteriis (Temm.). 



This genus is differentiated from Circus by its rounded nostril, 

 shorter and stouter bill, much shorter and more rounded wino-, 

 and the verv Ions: tail. 



Fig. ol. — To show tlie absence of any tooth on the lower edge 

 of the ui^])er mandible. 



Ke>/ to the Species. 



A. Larger, wing more than 200 mm. 



a' . Above black with a white collar on the 



hind-neck JI. bracJii/jyfents, ix 221. 



b'. Above uniform slate-grey, no collar on 



the hind-neck M. mirancloUei, p. 221. 



B. Smaller, mng less than 200 mm. 



c. Larger, wdng more than 185 mm. ; 



abdomen white sparsely banded with 



brown. $ \ M. gilvicollis, y>. 222. 



d'. Smaller, -ndng less than 18-5 mm. ; 



abdomen nmnerously banded with 



blackish brown. 9 M. in terstes, p. 223. 



