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Show 680 MR. A. ANDERSON ON THE [Nov. 21, base, rest bluish horny ; iris brown. The bird, a female, is now in the collection of Mr. Brooks, where it has been examined by Mr. Hume, who pronounced it to be "F. atriceps." Without venturing an opinion myself as to whether this Falcon is worthy of specific separation from the preceding species, I would remark that both Col. Delme Radcliffe ('Field,' No. 969) and Mr. Brooks consider the so-called F. atriceps to be merely an accidental variety of F. peregrinator. Indeed the latter gentleman showed me a specimen in his collection which has one side of its head like F. peregrinator and the other like F. atriceps. Mr. Brooks, I may observe, does not regard his opinion on the subject as possessing any weight, on account of the few specimens he has seen of these two birds ; but Col. Radcliffe's is especially weighty, considering he has had more Indian Falcons through his hands than any other man. Mr. Hume distinguishes this species from the other bird, both on account of its paler mantle and the absence of the rich ochreous colour below. When treating of F. atriceps he writes, " the whole of the rest of the upper parts are a clear Peregrine slaty blue," and, again, " beneath it is never so rufous as F. peregrinator usually (but not invariably) is*. M y specimens of these two Falcons (viz. F. peregrinator and F. atriceps) correspond in these points as much as it is possible for one bird to be like another. In fact m y F. atriceps (if it is entitled to distinction) has a dark slaty-black head, dark grey back, and is very rufous beneath, being also well marked. If I remember right, Mr. H u m e is not now inclined to regard his new bird as a good species, but is of opinion that all the Peregrinators of the Northwest Provinces belong to the atriceps type, which he considers to be distinct from the specimen described by Sundevall from Southern India. I take this opportunity of correcting an error that Dr. Jerdon has been led into, in supposing that " many"f specimens of this Falcon have been recently procured both by Mr. H u m e and Mr. Brooks. M y sole object in doing so is, that if such a statement is allowed to remain unchallenged, it strengthens the position of the new species. So far, therefore, from "many" specimens having been procured, Mr. Hume has or had a short time ago only two, and Mr. Brooks has also two-the one shot by me, and one got himself, a half-and-half bird which has already been alluded to. 11. FALCO JUGGER, Gray. (The Jugger.) Abundant, and very partial to open country. I have seen five and six in a morning's ride through large plains studded here and there with solitary peepul trees, and have preserved a fine series showing every gradation of colour, from the bird of the year, with leaden-white legs, feet, cere, and uniform brown plumage beneath, to the fully adult specimens, having the underparts pure white, and legs &c. of a bright yellow. * Rough Notes, part i. p. 58. t Ibis, vol. i. (3rd ser.) p. 237. |
