122 FALCONID^. 



Astiu" crueiitus, Fiiisch u. Ilurtl. Fcuuie Central-Polyn. Oni. p. 3 



(1807). 

 Nisus rufitorques, Schl. Mus. P.-B. Revue Accipitr. p. 81 (1873)*. 



Young. Above clear brown, with indications of pale rufous margins 

 to the wing-coverts and scapulars ; the hinder neck clearly rufescent, 

 mottled with brown, and slightly varied with white ; head inclining 

 to ashy grey ; throat dull white ; rest of under surface white, with 

 oval drops of pale rufous, taking the form of bars on the sides of 

 breast and flanks ; the thighs and under tail-coverts uniform pale 

 rufous, shghtly mottled with remains of brown markings ; quiUs and 

 tail dull brown, with more or less distinct bars of darker brown, 

 plainer on the inner webs ; the under surface of both paler and 

 more ashy, washed with pale rufous near the base of the inner 

 webs. 



The above short description of the young bird refers to a specimen 

 in the Museum which is beginning to show signs of adolescence, as 

 may be seen by the ashy grey on the head and the presence of two 

 fresh feathers on the back, which are also grey. The markings on 

 the breast-feathers are altering in shape and turning to bars, 

 while at the same time the stage of plumage is becoming perfected 

 by the shooting of new feathers, as is usual in this section of the 

 genus. 



Adult male. Above delicate bluish grey or dove-colour, the wings 

 and tail uniform with the back, the primaries only a little darker and 

 more blackish ; the under surface of both quills and tail pale ashy, 

 almost white ; hinder part of neck delicate vinous ; sides of face ashy 

 grey like the head, but a little paler ; throat white ; rest of under 

 surface very pale vinous, lighter towards the abdomen and thighs and 

 under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts white. Total length 13-5 

 inches, culmen 0-85, wing 8-1, tail 6-1, tarsus 2'2. 



Adult female. Similar to the male, but larger and more slate- 

 coloured ; the neck-collar and the iinder surface deeper vinous. Total 

 length 16-5 inches, wing 9-6, tail 7*1, tarsus 2-6. 



Hab. Fiji Islands. 



a,b. c? 2 ad. sk. Island of Matuku. F. M. Rayner, Esq. [C.]. Voyage 



of the 'Herald.' 



c. (S iuv. St. Viti Levu. F. M. Rayner, Esq. [C.]. Voyage 



of the 'Herald.' 



d. tS ad. St. Fiji Islands. 



e. 5 ad. St. Rewa. Julius Brenchley, Esq. [P.]. 



27. Astur griseigularis. 



Astur griseogularis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 343. 



Nisus cruentus, Schl. 3Ius. P.-B. Astures, p. 40 (1862) ; id. Vog. 



Nederl. Ind., Valkv. pi. 14. figs. 3, 4, pi. 15. figs. 1-3, pi. 16. figs. 1, 



2 (1866). 



* Although Professor Schlegel recognizes this species by its name in the place 

 quoted, he adds as synonyms three species which are in this work treated as 

 distinct. These are Nos. 8, 27, and 28 of the present genus. 



