450 



Figures notabiles. 



Albin, I. c. ; Werner, Atlas, Rapaces, pi. 28 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. iv. ; Frisch, I. c. ; 

 Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 5. fig. 8 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 32, 33 ; Sundevall, Sv. 

 Fogl. pi. 28. fig. 4; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 14; id. B. of G. B. i. pi. vi. ; Schlegel, Vog. 

 Nederl. pi. 35 ; Eoux, Orn. Prov. pis. 20, 21, 22. 



(J ad. corpore et capite supra saturate fuscis, dorso vix metallico nitente : fronte et nucha, albido notatis, et 

 corpore supra, dorso excepto, vix rufescente brunneo notato : remigibus nigro-fuscis, primariis in 

 pogonio externo inconspicue griseo lavatis, remigibus omnibus in pogonii interni dimidio basali albidis 

 nigro-fusco fasciatis et vix eodem colore marmoratis : uropygio cum supracaudalibus saturate fuscis vix 

 purpureo nitentibus, his ex parte fulvido apicatis : cauda fusca, vix pallide brunneo apicata. et grisescente 

 brunneo fasciata, : capitis lateribus et gula. albidis nigro-fusco striatis : corpore subtus saturate fusco, 

 profuse ochrascente albido et albo notato et fasciato : subcaudalibus ochrascenti-albidis, conspicue 

 fusco transfasciatis : cera et pedibus flavicantibus, unguibus et rostro nigricanti-corneis, hoc ad basin 

 pallidiore : hide fusca. 



5 mari similis sed major. 



Adult Male (Skanor, Sweden). Upper parts dark earth-brown, the back having a faint metallic gloss; fore- 

 head and nape marked with whitish, and the upper parts generally, except the interscapulary region, 

 slightly varied with dull reddish brown ; quills blackish brown, the primaries with a very faint greyish 

 tinge on the outer web, and all with the basal half, or rather more, of the inner web white broadly 

 barred and slightly marbled with dark brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts dark earth-brown, with a 

 faint purplish gloss, some of the latter with fulvous tips ; tail dark brown, crossed by about ten fighter, 

 greyish brown bands, and slightly tipped with dull light brown ; throat and sides of the head whitish, 

 closely striped with dark brown, rest of the underparts dark brown, profusely marked and barred with 

 yellowish white and almost pure white ; under tail-coverts yellowish white, with broad bars of dark 

 brown ; cere and legs dark yellow ; claws dark horn ; beak blackish horn, fighter at the base ; iris 

 brown. Total length about 20 inches, cufinen 13, wing 14'8, tad 8'8, tarsus 3*1. 



Female (Wermland). Resembles the male, but has the upper parts more marked with fight brown and 

 whitish, and the underparts much more varied with white. In size, also, larger than the male, 

 measuring — cufinen T4, wing 15 - 6, tail 9'4., tarsus 3'12. 



Nestling (Belgium) . Covered with thick soft white down, which on the upper parts is greyish white ; the 

 feathers, which are just sprouting on the wings and the back of the neck, are dark brown, tipped with 

 reddish brown. 



Obs. The present species varies so widely in plumage that it is quite impossible to describe the different 

 varieties. These are certainly not dependent on either age or sex ; but individual specimens may be 

 found of either sex, or almost any age, varying from almost white with but few brownish markings, to 

 deep blackish brown but little marked with white or pale brown. Some of the varieties are exceedingly 

 beautiful, one of the handsomest I have ever seen being one in the collection of Mr. E. Hargitt. Though 

 I have several of what I consider the typical or dark brown form, I possess only one of the whitish 

 variety, in which the upper parts are dull brown, margined with white, and the underparts white, 

 slightly marked on the throat, breast, and flanks with pale reddish brown. Mr. Benzon informs me 

 that he has obtained all varieties in Denmark, from blackish brown and dark brown to brownish yellow, 



