04 BIKDS OF INDIA. 



49. Archibuteo hemiptilopus, Blyth. 



J. A. S., XY., 1— Blyth, Cat. llG— Housf., Cat. 618— A. 

 ciyptogenys, Hodgson, Gale. J. N. H., 1847. 



The Bkown Eagle Buzzard. 



Descr. — Above rich deep fuscous brown, slightly glossed with 

 pink, interscapulars shading to f ulvescent ; feathers of nape white 

 except at the tip ; head mingled whitish and brown ; a large black- 

 ish moustaclie from the base of the lower mandible ; breast fulves- 

 cent, the feathers tipped brown ; abdomen, flanks, vent, lower 

 tail coverts, tibial and tarsal plumes, uniform rich dark brown, 

 almost blackish ; quills dusky, some of them faintly barred ; tail 

 narrowly barred throughout with dusky and pale, and a broadish 

 subtcrminal band, albescent beneath, and the stems of the feathers 

 white. 



Bill dusky, yellowish at the base ; cere wax-yellow ; toes wax- 

 yellow ; tarsus feathered to the toes in front, and externally, bare 

 and scutellated behind. Length 28 inches; Aving 20^; tail 13; 

 bill at gape 2 ; tarsus 3 ; hind toe and claw 2^. 



This fine rough-legged Buzzard has been procured in Nepal and 

 Sikim, and also in Tibet. Its feet are remarkably small for its large 

 size and robust form. The wings do not nearly reach the end of 

 the tail, and the tarsi are feeble. Nothing is recorded of its habits. 



Other species of Archibuteo are A. lagojyus, oi Europe, A. 

 St. Johannis of North America, and A. ferrugineus of Mexico. 



Gen. Circus, Lacepede. 



Syn. — Pygargus, Koch. — Strigiceps., Bon. 



Char. — Bill short, weak, high at the base, compressed, sloping, 

 moderately hooked at tip, a slight festoon in the middle of the margin 

 of upper mandible ; cere large, covered with setaceous curved pliimes; 

 lores covered with small feathers and bristles ; ears large, the 

 coverts and the lower parts of the face partly surrounded by a ruff 

 of small thick-set feathers, forming an imperfect disk ; wings long, 

 3rd and 4th quills longest ; tail long, slightly rounded ; tarsi long, 

 slender, well plumed at the knee, smooth, with large transverse 



