24 THE CARACARA EAGLE. 



and transverse; toes of moderate size, scutellate above, the inner scaly at the 

 base; the outer is connected with the middle toe at the base by a web, as is 

 the inner, although its web is smaller; lateral toes equal, middle one con- 

 siderably longer, hind toe shortest, and not proportionally stronger; claws 

 long, arched, roundish, tapering to a point. 



Plumage compact, slightly glossed. Upper eyelid with short strong 

 bristles; space before the eye, cheeks, throat and cere of both mandibles 

 bare, having merely a few scattered bristly feathers. Feathers of the head, 

 neck and breast narrow; of the back broad and rounded; outer tibial feathers 

 elongated, but shorter than in most Hawks. Wings long, reaching to within 

 two inches of the tip of the tail; primaries tapering, secondaries broad and 

 rounded, with an acumen; the fourth quill longest, third scarcely shorter, 

 first and seventh about equal; almost all the primaries are more or less sinuate 

 on their inner webs, and the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth on their 

 outer. Tail long, rounded, of twelve broadish, rounded feathers. There is 

 a large bare space on the breast, as in the Turkey-Buzzard. 



Bill pale blue, yellow on the edges, cere carmine. Iris dark-brown. 

 Feet yellow; claws black. Upper part of the head umber-brown, streaked 

 with brownish-black. Feathers of hind-neck and fore part of the back light 

 brownish-yellow, mottled with dark brown towards the end. Back and 

 wings dark brown, edged with umber. Primaries and some of the seconda- 

 ries barred with broad bands of white, excepting towards the end. Tail 

 coverts dull-white, slightly barred with dusky. Tail greyish-white, with 

 sixteen narrow bars, and a broad terminal band of blackish-brown, the tips 

 lighter. Fore part and sides of the neck light brownish-yellow; the fore 

 part of the breast marked like that of the back, the yellow colour extending 

 over the lateral part of the neck; the hind part, abdomen, sides, and tibia 

 dark brown; the lower tail-coverts yellowish-white. Interior of mouth and 

 skin of the whole body bright yellow. 



Length 23^ inches; extent of wings 4 feet; bill along the ridge 2\, the 

 cere being 1, along the edge 2\; tarsus 3^, middle toe and claw 3^. 



Gexus II.— BUTEO, Bechst. BUZZARD. 



Bill short, with the upper outline nearly straight and declinate to the edge 

 of the cere, then decurved, the sides rapidly sloping, the edges with a slight 

 festoon, the tip trigonal, acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex 

 and ascending, the edges arched, at the end deflected, the tip rounded. Head 

 large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils obovate, nearer the ridge than the 



