58 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ORNITHOLOGY, VOL. i. 



98. Helotarsus ecaudatus. 



Falco ecaudatus. Daud, Traite", Vol. II, p. 54 (1800). 



Helotarsus ecaudatus. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. , Vol. I, p. 

 300 (1874). Id., Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 508 (1895). 



$ Haili. Cere yellow. Bill and legs rich orange. 



This splendid eagle was often seen flying high in air, 

 scrutinizing the ground below. It presents a singular, though 

 beautiful appearance on the wing, the extremely short tail and 

 long primaries giving it the shape not unlike that of a large bat. 

 The underside of the wings being white, they seem almost trans- 

 parent, as the sun shines upon them, and they afford a strong 

 contrast to the black body. When in the air, the bird sails or 

 soars, the wings being flapped rarely, but held motionless, 

 stretched out to their fullest extent. It is altogether the finest 

 eagle in Somali-land. North of the Golis range it is not often 

 seen. The specimen obtained was shot with a rifle by Mr. 

 Akeley. 



99. Poliohierax semitorquatus. 



Falco semitorquatus. Smith, Rep. Exp. Centr. Afr. , p. 44 

 (1836). 



Poliohierax semitorquatus. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. Vol. I, 

 p. 370 (1874). Id., Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 510 (1895). 

 $ Adadleh. 

 $ Silo Plain. 



9 Adadleh. Iris brown. Cere, eyelids and legs, vermilion. 

 9 9 Hullier. Iris brown. Cere, eyelids and legs, salmon color. 

 9 9 Higlileh, Ogaden. 



The most beautiful little hawk in the country, and one not at 

 all uncommon, though the females appeared to far outnumber 

 the males. 



100. Cerchneis fieldi, sp. nov. 



$ Silo Plain. 



9 Toyo Plain. 



This apparently very distinct species of Kestrel was seen at 

 various times and places, mostly in the open country, seeming to 

 prefer such localities as the plains, where the two examples 

 brought with me were procured. It is nearest to C. rupicoloides, 

 Smith, from South Africa, but differs in being much lighter in 

 color generally, the dark bands on the upper surface much nar- 

 rower, and has seven bars on the. tail instead of six. At first 



