94 LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. 



I introduce this bird into this work upon the 

 authority of Mr. Gurney, who has received specimens 

 from the mouths of the Volga. The following is an 

 abstract of Mr. Gurney's letter: — "In the Norwich 

 Museum there are specimens from Southern Asia and 

 the North-east of Africa, but there are also specimens 

 from the mouths of the Volga, which is the only Euro- 

 pean locality from which I have received it; but there 

 are probably other districts in South-eastern Europe in 

 which it may be found. 



This species is sometimes of a uniform dark chocolate 

 brown all over. I have seen only two such examples, 

 one from India and one from Abyssinia. This is out 

 of at least thirty specimens of the bird which I have 

 at different times seen; whether this is accidental or a 

 regular plumage I cannot tell, but being so rare in 

 proportion to those in the usual dress, I am disposed 

 to consider it an accidental variation." 



Of the habits of this bird in Europe nothing is at 

 present known. In fact it is a mere accidental visitor, 

 for which we are probably indebted to the proximity 

 of the European to the Asiatic boundary. I have, 

 however, much pleasure in introducing it into this 

 work. 



Of its habits in India we have very interesting 

 accounts by Mr. Jerdon, in the "Madras Literary and 

 Scientific Journal," vol. x, page 76; and by Mr. 

 Hodgson, in the "Bengal Sporting Magazine," 1836, 

 page 181, from which I copy the following: — 



Mr. Jerdon says: — "This is certainly a rare bird. I 

 have hitherto only seen it near Jaulnah, perched on 

 low trees or on the ground, in fields or near water, 

 and taking a low but short flight to another similar 

 perch. In the stomach of the specimen I shot there 



