Ornithological Notes. 
25 
II. Ornithological Notes. (1.) Pernis apivorus [Flem.), the Honey 
Buzzard. (2.) Tetrao urogallus {Lin.), the Capercailzie {female in 
male plumage). By John Alex. Smith, M.D. 
(1.) Pernis apivorus, the Honey Buzzard. 
A fine specimen of an adult female was shot by Mr Gavin 
Hill at Dalmalioy, near Eatho, on the 13th June 1862. The 
bird was comparatively tame, flying from branch to branch 
of the tree. Length from bill to point of tail 24J inches. 
The extended wings measured, from point to point, 4 
feet. The lores covered with the small -scale-like imbricated 
feathers. The stomach was filled with the semi-digested 
remains apparently of wasps and their larvte, and the elytra 
of beetles ; the eggs in the ovary were well developed. I 
have previously exhibited to the Society two specimens of 
this bird,* it is however rare, in Scotland ; and from the 
season when it has been killed, as well as from its insect 
food, is believed to be merely an occasional summer visitor. 
(2.) Tetrao tirogallus. the Wood Grouse or Capercailzie. 
The bird exhibited was an example of a curious change 
of plumage which occasionally takes place in birds,-— a 
female assuming the plumage of the male. This capercailzie 
is a female of the ordinary size, but the general dark charac- 
ter of its plumage is that of the adult male. 
Length nearly 26 inches ; of wing from flexure, 12 inches; 
fourth primary a little longer than the third, and the longest 
in the wing. Bill, light horn colour, especially at tip. 
Plumage of throat glossy black ; head and neck, upper and 
lower parts of back, dark grey and black mottled ; wings, 
wing coverts, and middle of back, dark reddish-brown 
mottled with black, and slightly also with grey ; the points 
of some of the scapulars and tertials slightly tipped with 
white ; the primaries dark brown, mottled on outer webs 
with grey. Tail rounded, dark grey nearly black, the base 
of the feathers being slightly mottled on their outer webs 
with greyish-brown ; tail coverts mottled with grey and 
brown, and outer feathers tipped with white. Lower part 
VOL. III. 
* See Proc. vol i. p. 240. 
D 
