ACCIPITEIN^. d9 



dukhunensis, Sykes, Cat. 10 — Jerdon, Cat. 32 — A. scutarius, and 

 A. fringillaroides of Hodgson — Astur bifasciatus, Peale — Shikra 

 (the female) ; and Chipka or C/iippak (tlie male) H. — KatJda (the 

 female) and Tunna (the male,) in Nepal — J all dega, Tel. — Cliinna 

 wallur, Tam. 



The Shikea. 



Descr. — The young bird is dark reddish, or dusky brown above . 

 the feathers edged with rufous, most broadly so in the male; back 

 of the head and nape a good deal variegated with white ; tail 

 light ashy brown, with six dark bands ; beneath white, with 

 a central dark chin line ; the breast and abdomen with large oval 

 brown spots, longer on the breast, rounded on the abdomen; the 

 thigh coverts rufescent white, with smaller spots; under tail coverts 

 with a very few faint stripes. The male has usually fewer spots 

 than the female. Irides pale yellow; feet yellow; bill bluish, 

 dusky at the tip ; and the cere yellow. 



The adult bird is pale ashy grey above, darkest on the head, and 

 with a dusky reddish nape, only conspicuous when the head is 

 bent forwards ; tail, with the two centre feathers, and the two outer 

 ones not barred, the others only barred on the inner webs ; quills 

 blackish grey, with some dark narrow bands on the inner webs. 

 Beneath white, with a faint chin stripe, not always present ; breast 

 and upper abdomen closely barred with pale rufescent fawn- 

 colored transverse marks ; the lower abdomen, thigh coverts, and 

 vmder tail coverts pure white; irides deep orange color; cere bright 

 yellow; feet dark buff yellow. 



This plumage is not assumed before the fourth or fifth year, and 

 the intermediate changes may be said to consist in the ujiper 

 plumage becoming more uniform and ashy ; the longitudinal drops 

 beneath changing to transverse bars, gradually becoming lighter, 

 and with age disappearing in some parts ; and in the bars of the 

 tail also gradually being obliterated. 



Length of a male 12^ inches; wing 7^; tail 5^. A female is 14 



to 15 inches long; wing8|; tail 7; tarsus nearly 2; middle toe ly"^,. 



Weight of a male 5 to Goz.; of a female 8^ to 9-^oz. 



The Shikra is very common throughout the whole of India, 



spreading to Ceylon, Assam, Burmali, and Malayana ; also 1o 



o 



