The Buzzards of the Himalmja and Tibet. 95 



in the cold season, and permanently so in the central hilly region, 

 where it breeds and abounds, especially in the more level and rice- 

 growing tracts, such as the valley of Nepaul proper. Another small 

 species named Nana is on record ; and there ends the enumeration, 

 so far as the plains are concerned. But, in the juxta-nivean region 

 of the Sub-Himalayas and in Tibet, are found in the several other 

 species, some of which are visitants of the central hilly region in the 

 cold months. 



These additional species, which affect the cold regions, are — 



1. Buteo Plumipes. 



2. Buteo Leucocephalus vel Aquilinus. 



3. Archibuteo Cryptogenys, n. s. 



4. Butaquila Strophiata. 



In the first the elongation of the tarse, the acuteness of the talons, 

 the slenderness of the whole figure, and lastly some vague indication 

 of the facial disc, are so many approximations towards the Moor 

 Buzzard, a species of Circus. But the bird is no doubt properly re- 

 tained in the genus Buteo, though it differ yet further from the type 

 of that genus by having its tarse nearly two-thirds plumed, as 

 in the next and very large species from Tibet, which again de- 

 viates from the type, as well by this additional plumage on the 

 legs as by having the naked portion of the tarse anteally reticu- 

 late, and not scutellate. As however the reticulation is coarse and 

 inclining towards scutellation, I leave this species also among the 

 proper Buzzards, because the type of that genus likewise sometimes 

 exhibits this tendency to reticulation in front of the tarse, whilst the 

 length and form of the wings, and the compact and massive structure 

 of Leucocephalus, accord as entirely as do the other details of its 

 structure with the type of Buteo. Not so, however, the fourth 

 species above enumerated, though Mr. Gray supposes these two to be 

 identical, and accordingly sets down Archibuteo Strophiatus vel 

 Leucocephalus as one and the same species ! This however is a mis- 

 take ; for I have young and old birds to refer to, and can safely affirm 

 that, whatever the approximations of size and colour may be, there are 

 structural differences rendering it impossible to identify these two 

 species, or, as I conceive, to class either of them with Archibuteo. 

 Leucocephalus vel Aquilinus is decidedly a Buteo, though deviating 



