46 5 



is worn, and is being moulted ; a new feather, about half-grown, is uniform pale rufous, shaded with 

 greyish brown on the outer web, precisely similar to fresh tail-feathers in the adult bird above described, 

 thus clearly proving that the bird changes the banded dark tail for a creamy rufous one, and not vice 

 versa as stated by Mr. Sharpe. Judging from my series, I should consider that the type of B. aquilinus 

 (Cat. Ace. pi. viii.) is a rather dark bird in the plumage after the nestling-dress, when the rufous 

 markings have toned down and become duller and less perceptible, and the tail has attained its full 

 growth. 



This very distinct species only inhabits the eastern and south-eastern portions of Europe, passing 

 south into Africa during the winter months ; in Asia it is found at least as far east as Northern 

 and Central India ; but I am doubtful if the species recorded from Eastern Siberia is the true 

 B. ferox. 



It has not been met with in the British Isles, Scandinavia, Germany, France, or Western 

 Europe; but a specimen is stated by Count Salvadori (Ucc. d'ltal. p. 12) to have been captured 

 near Genoa on the 8th April 1869, and is now preserved in the Museo Civico of that city. It 

 does not appear to have ever occurred in Greece ; but Messrs. Elwes and Buckley write (Ibis, 

 1870, p. 72) that M. Alleon informed them that one was killed near Constantinople in the winter 

 of 1856 ; and, they add, Mr. Bobson has also procured it there. 



In Southern Bussia it is tolerably common in the steppe country during the summer season, 

 but does not appear to range far north, as Sabanaeff does not include it in his lists of the birds 

 inhabiting Central Bussia and the Ural range ; but Mr. Jacovleff says that it is very common in 

 the Calmuck and the Actubinsk steppes, and he frequently observed it early in June 1872, near 

 Mount Bogdo, but only saw it near Astrachan during passage, as it rarely leaves the true steppes. 

 Von Norclmann does not record it from the neighbourhood of Odessa ; nor did Menetries meet 

 with it in the Caucasus. It has been found breeding near Smyrna, in Asia Minor, by Dr. Kriiper, 

 who has sent me both the nestling bird and eggs from there. He writes (J. f. O. 1869, p. 29) 

 that it arrives there late in March or early in April, and is easily distinguishable by its rufous 

 coloration and nearly white tail. A pair inhabited a rock about eight miles from Burnova ; but 

 he could not find the nest before June, when he traced the old birds carrying food to their 

 young. Canon Tristram, who met with it in Falestine, writes (Ibis, 1865, p. 255) as follows : — 

 " It is extremely numerous in every part of the country, and at all times of the year. It con- 

 gregates in small flocks in the orangeries and olive-yards behind the Fhcenician towns, consorting 

 with Circaetus gallicus, and is equally abundant in the wildest recesses of the eastern mountains, 

 or on the bare and boundless plains of the southern wilderness. In the south of Judsea in winter 

 it is decidedly gregarious ; but during the breeding-season it is found in pairs in the wooded 

 wadys." It was also met with at Wady Gharandel, in the peninsula of Sinai, by Mr. C. W. 

 Wyatt ; and from Northern Africa it is recorded both as a winter visitant, and also breeds there. 

 In North-east Africa it appears to be common ; and Captain Shelley speaks of it (B. of Egypt, 

 p. 201) as being " the most plentiful species of Buzzard throughout Egypt and Nubia. In 

 Lower Egypt it is less frequently met with than higher up the Nile, and does not, I believe, 

 winter in the Delta. It appears to be less abundant in some years than others ; for in 1870 I 

 only met with one specimen, at Kom Ombo, where it was breeding at the time. This specimen, 

 unlike any other that I have ever seen, had a brown tail distinctly barred. In 1868 it was rarely 



