94 ' LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. 
I rytropucre 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-cast 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 beimg so rare in 
proportion to those in the usual dress, J 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 introducmg 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 followmg:— 
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 — 
