30 COMMON BUZZARD. 



toward the base with transverse series of rectangular scales; claws long, stout, 

 arched, moderately compressed, flat beneath, tapering to a very acute point; 

 the inner edge of that of the middle toe sharp. 



Plumage rather compact, the feathers broadly ovate and rounded; the 

 space between the bill and the eye covered with small bristle-pointed 

 feathers; the feathers on the outer side of the leg not much elongated. 

 Wings long, broad, much rounded; the first quill four inches shorter than 

 the fourth, which is longest, the fifth longer than the third, and the seventh 

 longer than the second; the first four having the inner web cut out; secon- 

 daries broad and rounded. Tail long, broad, slightly rounded, the lateral 

 feathers three-quarters of an inch shorter than the longest. 



Bill light blue at the base, black toward the end; cere and feet yellow; 

 claws black. The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown; 

 the quills darker; the upper and lower wing-coverts and the feathers of the 

 legs brownish-red, the wing-coverts with a central dusky streak, which is 

 enlarged on those toward the edge beyond the carpal joint, and on the secon- 

 dary coverts, so as to leave only the margins red. The feathers of the rump 

 are faintly margined with red, and the upper tail-coverts are barred and 

 tipped with white. The tail is brownish-black, with two broad bands of 

 while, the one at the base, the other terminal. 



Length to end of tail 24 inches; bill along the ridge 1-J-f; cere ^; wing 

 from flexure \5\; tail \0\; tarsus 3/^; hind toe lj S , its claw l^g ; ; second toe 

 lj|, its claw lj|; third toe 2, its claw \l; fourth toe 1 T 5 2, its claw yj. 



COMMON BUZZARD. 



Buteo vulgaris, JVilloughby. 



PLATE VI.— Female. 



The specimen from which the figure before you was taken, was shot by 

 Mr. Townsend on a rock near the Columbia River, on which it had its nest. 

 Unfortunately, however, he has not supplied me with any account of this 

 species, and the only notice respecting its habits that I have seen, is that in 

 the Fauna Boreali-Americana, by Dr. Richardson: — "The Common Buz- 

 zard arriving in the Fur Countries in the middle of April very soon after- 

 wards begins to build its nest; and, having reared its young, departs about 

 the end of September. It haunts the low alluvial points of land which stretch 

 out under the high banks of a river; and may be observed sitting for a long 



