FALCONIDJE — BUTEONINjE : BUZZARDS. 
547 
more or less tinged and varied, in different specimens, with light chestnut. In some males, this 
chestnut is diminished to traces, chiefly in flank- bars and arrow-heads, and the white throat is 
immaculate ; in others, the throat shows blackish pencilling, and the rest of the under parts are 
so much marked with chestnut, chiefly in cross-bars, that this color predominates over the 
white, and appears in direct continuation of the pectoral area itself. Some feathers of this area 
are commonly dark brown. Length 19.00-20.00; extent about 49.00; wing 15.00 or a little 
more; tail 8.50; tarsus 2.50; middle toe without claw 1.50. Adult 9 • Much darker under- 
neath than the male ; throat pure white, but other under parts probably never whitening 
decidedly. Pectoral area from rich dark chestnut or mahogany-color, mixed with still darker 
Fig. 381. — Buteo vulgaris of Europe, \ nat. size; not distinguishable in the cut from one of the plumages of 
B. swainsoni. (FromBrehm.) 
feathers, to brownish -black ; and other under parts heavily marked with chestnut, chiefly in 
cross-bars alternating with whitish, but on the flanks, and sometimes across the belly, these 
markings quite blackish. The general tone of the under parts may be quite as dark as the 
pectoral area of the male, but it lacks uniformity, and the increased depth of color of the 
pectoral area in this sex suffices to preserve the strong contrast already mentioned. Length 
20.00-22.00; extent 50.00-54.00 : wing 15.00-16.50 ; tail 9.00. Changes of plumage with age 
affect chiefly the under parts ; the back, wings, and tail are more nearly alike at all times. 
Young ^ 9 • Entire upper parts dark brown, everywhere varied with tawny edgings of the 
individual feathers. The younger the bird, the more marked is the variegation ; it corresponds 
in tints closely with the color of the under parts, being palest in very young examples. Under 
parts, including lining of wings, nearly uniform fawn-color (pale dull yellowish-brown). 
