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Show 1871.] RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF INDIA. 679 Hume, had been added to my list, I was on the qui vive in the fond hope that something would turn up before it got dark. Small flights of Parrots (Palceornis torquatus and P. rosa) were winging their way in rapid succession to their favourite roosting-places, as is their wont at sunset, when to m y delight a Falcon dashed into a small flock of the latter, within a few paces of m y horse's head, and sufficiently close to startle the animal momentarily. My gun-bearers, as invariably happens in cases of emergency, had lagged about a hundred yards behind, or I could easily have jumped off m y horse, and shot the Falcon on the wing. Thrice did she attempt to strike her quarry, and on each occasion the Parrots huddled together in the utmost terror and confusion, dropping, as if shot dead, into the high ruhur crop through which I was riding. As they emerged, the Falcon doubled back upon them, and having been foiled in her repeated attempts, betook herself to a neighbouring tree, whence I had no difficulty in bringing her down. Length 17, wing 12| inches. Cere and base of bill greenish yellow, orbital space pale yellow ; legs and feet bright yellow. Had it not been for the friendly cover, and perhaps the noise made by m e in calling for my gun, the Falcon would not have retired to roost supperless that night. I have sinee learned that this Falcon preys to a great extent on Parrots. The Shaheen must indeed be a rare bird ; for this is the only one seen by m e during a tour of five and a half months, and it is no exaggeration to say that hardly a day passed without myself or collectors spending several hours in the field. W h e n on m y voyage out from England, a Falcon was captured ou board the Peninsular and Oriental steamer ' Golconda,' on the evening of the 18th of October last, off the Bombay coast (midway between Aden and that port), of which I noted down a description and measurements as well as circumstances would permit, considering the poor bird had a broken leg and was confined in a hen-coop. I have now no hesitation in considering this to have been a male F. peregrinator. It would have been very interesting to have compared this specimen with examples from the North-west Provinces; but unfortunately one of the ship's officers was an amateur ornithologist, and all m y attempts to negotiate for the bird proved futile. In like manner I lost two specimens of Accipiter nisus and one Tinnunculus cenchris, besides several small birds in the Mediterranean. The Bombay F. peregrinator wanted the rich ochreous colouring beneath, so conspicuous in my bird, and was certainly of a paler hue above. 9 bis. FALCO ATRICEPS, Hume*. (The Black-cap Falcon.) This was another trophy obtained by me on the morning of the 16th of November last, just five days after going into camp. It was indeed a good beginning. Weight 13-. oz. Length 17, wing 13|, expanse 40 inches. Feet and legs orange ; cere and eyelids pale yellow; bill greenish at * See concerning this species Col. Delme Radcliffe's remarks in 'Ibis,' 1871, p. 363. |
