30 
COMMON BUZZARD. 
toward the base with transverse series of rectangular scales ; claws long, 
stout, arched, moderately compressed, flat beneath, tapering to a very acute 
point ; the inner edge of that of the middle toe sharp. 
Plumage rather compact, the feathers broadly ovate and rounded ; the 
space between the bill and the eye covered with small bristle-pointed 
feathers ; the feathers on the outer side of the leg not much elongated. 
Wings long, broad, much rounded ; the first quill four inches shorter than 
the fourth, which is longest, the fifth longer than the third, and the seventh 
longer .than the second ; the first four having the inner web cut out ; secon- 
daries broad and rounded. Tail long, broad, slightly rounded, the lateral 
feathers three-quarters of an inch shorter than the longest. 
Bill light blue at the base, black toward the end ; cere and feet yellow ; 
claws black. The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown ; 
the quills darker ; the upper and lower wing-coverts and the feathers of the 
legs brownish-red, the wing-coverts with a central dusky streak, which is 
enlarged on those toward the edge beyond the carpal joint, and on the 
secondary coverts, so as to leave only the margins red. The feathers of the 
rump are faintly margined with red, and the upper tail-coverts are barred 
and tipped with white. The tail is brownish black, with two broad bands 
of white, the one at the base, the other terminal. 
Length to end of tail 24 inches ; bill along the ridge Iff ; cere T \ • wing 
from flexure I5i ; tail lOi ; tarsus 3 T \- ; hind toe 1 , its claw Iff ; second 
toe Iff, its claw lfi ; third toe 2, its claw VI ; fourth toe Iff, its claw ff • 
COMMON BUZZARD. 
Buteo vulgaris, Willoughby. 
PLATE VI.— Female. 
The specimen from which the figure before you was taken, was shot by 
Mr. Townsend on a rock near the Columbia river, on which it had its nest. 
Unfortunately, however, he has not supplied me with any account of this 
species, and the only notice respecting its habits that I have seen, is that in 
the Fauna Boreali-Americana, by Dr. Richardson : — “ The Common Buz. 
zard arriving in the Fur Countries in the middle of April vety soon after- 
wards begins to build its nest ; and, having reared its young, departs about 
the end of September. It haunts the low alluvial points of land which stretch 
out under the high banks of a river ; and may be observed sitting for along 
