LITTLE RED-BILLED HAWK. 
123 
uniform grey ; from whence the ground colour of 
the body and thighs becomes white, elegantly crossed 
by narrow and well defined hands of pure grey, 
broadest on the flanks and body, and narrow on the 
thighs and belly; the vent and under tail-covers 
only are dingy white. The tips of all the quills 
have a conspicuous white margin. The inner webs 
of the quills, on their upper surface, are nearly of 
the same dark brown as the outer webs, — a very 
unusual circumstance in this family, — and they are 
crossed by distinct blackish bands, which do not 
run into each other ; of these there are seven on 
the first quill and nine on the next ; the colour of 
the quills beneath is light brown, becoming nearly 
white at their base, and the inner wing-covers are 
banded precisely like the body. The ground co- 
lour of the tail is light brown, which changes almost 
to pure white on the outermost feathers, all of 
which are crossed by four very broad bars (includ- 
ing that near the tip), which are more distinctly 
seen on the under than on the upper surface, where 
the ground colour of all appears to be dingy white. 
The cere, with the basal half of the bill, together with 
the legs, are of a bright red ; the .other half of the bill 
and the claws are bluish-black. The outer tail-feather 
only, on each side, is shorter than the others. 
The measurement of the only specimen sent is as 
follows : — Total length about 12 inches ; bill, from 
the gape, T 7 5 ; wings, 6 T 7 0 ; tail (beyond), ; from 
the base, 5| ; tarsus, lj® 5 ; middle toe, without the 
claw, 1 T V 
