ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 81 



one clump of trees to another, and that It generally avoids 

 the longer flight that must be incurred in passing from the 

 southern parts of the Continent to England, and thence on- 

 ward towards its northern breeding stations. Suffolk and 

 Norfolk, and other parts of the eastern coast, being in the 

 direct line of its migrations, are more frequently visited than 

 any other part of England. 



Great variations of plumage are observed in this, as in the 

 preceding species, although not quite to the same extent. 

 The most prominent character which distinguishes this species 

 at all periods is the white that always prevails more or 

 less upon the basal half of the tail feathers, and the white 

 breast and dark brown shield upon the lower part of the 

 belly are common to most specimens. 



The beak of the Rough-legged Buzzard is small and weak, 

 a good deal hooked, but without a tooth : the colour is black 

 at the tip, and bluish horn at the base ; the nostril is 

 oval and placed in a slanting direction ; the cere and corners 

 of the mouth are fine yellow. The tarsi are feathered down 

 to the junction of the toes, resembling some species of the 

 owls. The outer and middle toes are united by a membrane ; 

 the toes are all reticulated at the base, or junction with the 

 tarsus, with several broad scales towards the claws. The inner 

 and hinder toes have each four scales, the middle toe seven, 

 the outer five. The lore, according to the observations of 

 Mr. Selby, is covered beneath the dark radiating hairs with 

 small feathers, showing an approach to the feathered lore 

 and face of the honey buzzard. The first and second quill 

 feathers are short, the third and fourth the longest in the 

 wing. 



The bird represented in the plate is in the colouring most 

 usually seen in this species, and exactly resembles those des- 

 cribed by Montagu, Selby, and Temminck, and appears 

 common to both sexes. The entire length of this specimen 



g 2 



