24 
THE CARACARA EAGLE. 
and transverse ; toes of moderate size, scutellate above, the inner scaly at 
the base ; the outer is connected with the middle toe at the base by a web, 
as is the inner, although its web is smaller ; lateral toes equal, middle one 
considerably longer, hind toe shortest, and not proportionally stronger ; 
claws long, arched, roundish, tapering to a point. 
Plumage compact, slightly glossed. Upper eyelid with short strong 
bristles ; space before the eye, cheeks, throat and cere of both mandibles 
bare, having merely a few scattered bristly feathers. Feathers of the head, 
neck and breast narrow; of the back broad and rounded; outer tibial feathers 
elongated, but shorter than in most Hawks. Wings long, reaching to within 
two inches of the tip of the tail ; primaries tapering, secondaries broad and 
rounded, with an acumen : the fourth quill longest, third scai'cely shorter, 
first and seventh about equal; almost all the primaries are more or less sinuate 
on their inner webs, and the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth on their 
outer. Tail long, rounded, of twelve broadish, rounded feathers. There 
is a large bare space on the breast, as in the Turkey -Buzzard. 
Bill pale blue, yellow on the edges, cere carmine. Iris dark-brown. 
Feet yellow ; claws black. Upper part of the head umber-brown, streaked 
with brownish-black. Feathers of hind-neck and fore part of the back light 
brownish-yellow, mottled with dark brown towards the end. Back and 
wings dark brown, edged with umber. Primaries and some of the seconda- 
ries barred with broad bands of white, excepting towards the end. Tail 
coverts dull white, slightly barred with dusky. Tail greyish- white, with 
sixteen narrow bars, and a broad terminal band of blackish-brown, the tips 
lighter. Fore part and sides of the neck light brownish-yellow ; the fore 
part of the breast marked like that of the back, the yellow colour extending 
over the lateral part of the neck ; the hind part, abdomen, sides, and tibia 
dark brown ; the lower tail-coverts yellowish-white. Interior of mouth 
and skin of the whole body bright yellow. 
Length 23-J inches ; extent of wings 4 feet ; bill along the ridge 2|, the 
cere being 1, along the edge 21 ; tarsus 3i, middle toe and claw 3f. 
Genus II.— BUTEO, Bechst. BUZZARD 
Bill short, with the upper outline nearly straight and declinate to the edge 
of the cere, then decurved, the sides rapidly sloping, the edges with a slight 
festoon, the tip trigonal, acute ; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex 
and ascending, the edges arched, at the end deflected, the tip rounded. Head 
large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils obovate, nearer the ridge than the 
