148 Ceylon Ornithology, 



compressed to the tip; the culmen elevated, and much arched 

 to the tip, which is acute, and the lateral margins festooned 

 in the middle ; the nostrils large and suboval, and placed in 

 the hasal cere. Wings long, reaching to the middle of the 

 tail, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal, and 

 longest. Taillong and broad. Tarsi rather longer than the 

 middle toe ; the anterior and posterior sides covered with broad 

 transverse scales. Toes more or less lengthened, strong, and 

 padded beneath each joint; the lateral toes unequal; the 

 inner and hinder ones equally long and strong, and armed 

 with long, strong, and curved claws. 



Genus. Accipiter. Kriss. 



Bill very short with the culmen much arched to the tip, 

 which is acute ; the sides much compressed, and the lateral 

 margins festooned; the nostrils placed anteriorly in the cere, 

 large and suboval, partly concealed by the projecting hairs of 

 the lores. Wings moderate, with the fourth and fifth quills 

 nearly equal, and longest. Tail long, ample, and nearly 

 square at the end. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, covered 

 in front with nearly obsolete scales. Toes more or less 

 lengthened, and padded beneath the joints; the lateral ones 

 unequal, and the inner and hind toes equal in length, and 

 both with a strong curved claw. 



SUB-FAM: CIRCIN2E, or HARRIERS. 



Genus. Circus. Lacep. 



Bill moderate, elevated at the base of the culmen and 

 arched to the tip, which is hooked; the sides compressed, and 

 the lateral margins festooned; the nostrils large, oval, and 

 partly concealed by the curved hairs of the bases. Wings 

 long, with the third and fourth quills nearly equal and longest. 

 Tail long and rounded on the sides. Tarsi long, slender, and 

 compressed, the outer side covered with transverse scales, 

 and the inner with small scales. Toes moderate, with the 



