Mr. R. B. Sharpe’s Catalogue of Accipitres. 367 
ing its changes of plumage in confinement, I do not think 
that they bear out this assertion. 
The change which takes place in the passage from the 
immature to the fully adult dress is chiefly characterized by 
the bird becoming, throughout, less fuliginous and more 
intensely rufous; but this can only be correctly estimated by 
@ comparison of individuals which have newly moulted ; for I 
know no Buzzard in which the plumage becomes so worn and 
faded between the period of the assumption and moult of its 
feathers as in this species, and especially in North-African 
individuals, so that it seems difficult to recognize the ragged 
and faded bird which is approaching its moult as identical 
with the wearer of the rich rufous dress which distinguishes 
the adult of this species when the process of moulting has 
been but just completed. 
It may be useful to note in conclusion that full details of 
the coloration &c. of Himalayan examples of this Buzzard 
are given by Mr. Hume in his ‘ Rough Notes,’ pp. 271-274. 
Buteo ferox, the next species which we have to consider, is 
closely allied to B. desertorum, but of larger dimensions and 
a less extended geographical range. 
This Buzzard, like B. desertorum, though not quite to the 
same extent, is liable to a great loss of colour from the fading 
and attrition of the plumage between the period of its moults ; 
and this circumstance must be borne in mind in studying the 
variations to which this species is hable. 
Buteo ferox, like B. desertorum and B. vulgaris, has been 
recently the subject of a very full and exhaustive article by 
Mr. Dresser in the ‘ Birds of Europe, to which I would refer 
my readers. 
Mr. Dresser’s views of the changes of plumage incident to 
this species differ from those propounded by Mr. Sharpe; and 
the observations which I have made on numerous specimens 
lead me to agree in this instance with the opinions of Mr. 
Dresser rather than with those which have been published by 
Mr. Sharpe. 
It seems to me to be certain that, in this species, the trans- 
verse bars upon the tail are ordinarily and normally an indi- 


























