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Show 394 MR. R. C BEAVAN ON INDIAN RAPTORES. [Julie 11, skin round the eye pale yellow. This is one of the boldest and most graceful of the small Indian Raptores, and not uncommon in some parts of the country. 17. TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS, Brisson. The Kestril. At Baramussia in Maunbhoom, on 8th March, 1865, I shot a young bird in plumage changing to that of the adult. His dimensions were as follows :-Length 13| inches ; wing 9|, expanse 23 ; tail G; tarsus 1 \ : feet in colour a bright yellow, with black claws. Round eyes and the cere light yellow. Beak greenish blue, approaching greenish yellow near the top (where it meets the cere), lighter yellow underneath. And again at Simla, in August 1866, I procured both adult and young specimens, and observed several of the latter in Dr. Stoliczka's collection from the interior of the hills. (Cf. Ibis, 1867, p. 142.) I give the dimensions of another shot by me, in November 1866, near Umballah. Length 13| inches, wing 10, tail 6f, tarsus If, spread of foot 2\, extent 28|: bill and claws bluish black, cere yellowish white, legs light orange-yellow. Of that peculiar pigmy genus Hierax I never yet met with a specimen alive ; and it must be confined therefore to a very limited range in India ; for I, who have been over a good portion of it, never heard it mentioned even by the natives in any part I have visited. 22. ASTUR TRIVIRGATUS, Temm. The Crested Goshawk. One of the very few birds of prey procured by m e in the Maunbhoom district in 1865 was identified by Mr. Gurney as a young bird of this species, and interested him as being in exactly the same stage of plumage as another received by him shortly afterwards from the island of Formosa. (Gurney in epist. 22nd Jan., 1866.) The same gentleman iu another letter tells m e that " this species is thought by Professor Schlegel to comprise two races, the Malay race being, in his opinion, distinct from the Indian, and that additional adult Indian specimens would be interesting as tending to elucidate this point" (J. H. G.). 23. MICRONISUS BADIUS, Gmelin. The Shikra. I have procured specimens of this bird on several occasions-in the Maunbhoom district in 1864, and since. I have seen it flown by a falconer at Quail, near Kalka, in 1866, although without much success, owing to the density of the vegetation: it was then thrown from the hand at the flying quarry ; and this appears to be the usual native custom with such small hawks. At Mahasoo near Simla, I shot a bird which Col. Tytler called a species of 3Iicronisus that he knew, having previously obtained it near Umballah; but as I do not know exactly to which species to refer it, I subjoin the description from m y note-book. MICRONISUS, sp.? Mahasoo, near Simla, September 25th, 1866. Young bird of the year apparently. Sex 6. Irides bright yellow, edged with black |
