FALCO SEMITORQUATUS.— Smith. 



AvES. — Plate I. (Male.) 



F. parte supcriori capitis, dorso, humerisque cineraceis; capitis lateribus, fascia cervicali, tectricibus 

 superioribus cauda>, partibusque inferioribus albis ; remigibus rectricibusque bninneo-nigris niaculis 

 albis in sericbus transversis variegatis ; rostro ad basin, cera, pedibusque flavis ; rostri apice, ungui- 

 busque nigris ; oculis flavis. 



LoNGiTUDO 7 unc. 



Falco Semitorquatus, Rep. of Exped. page 44. June 1836. 



Colour. — The upper part of the head, the back, the secondary quill coverts 

 and a few of the innermost tertiary quill feathers cinereous or ashy blue ; the 

 sides of the head a broad transverse band on the back of the neck, the upper 

 tail coverts, and all the under parts pure white. Primary quill coverts, quill 

 feathers and tail dull brown or brownish black, freely variegated with white 

 spots. On the quill feathers, the spots on the outer vanes consist of some- 

 what circular or semicircular blotches, on the inner vanes of more or less 

 lengthened transverse bars, the latter more numerous than the former, which 

 are generally four on each web, except in the case of the first primary, which 

 is often spotless. On the tail the forms of the white spots are somewhat 

 similar to what they are upon the wing feathers, and the number upon 

 each vane is generally equal, commonly five, so that when the feathers are 

 spread, it appears crossed by that number of interrupted white bars ; both 

 the quill and tail feathers tipt with white. Cere, basal half of bill, legs and 

 toes yellow, distal half of bill livid blue, with the extreme tip nearly black ; 

 claws black ; eyes yellow. 



Form, Sec. — Bill rather compressed, and the point of the upper mandible 

 much hooked. Tarsi and toes moderately strong for the size of the bird, the 

 former covered in front by entire or divided plates, behind and on the sides by 

 scales. Claws much curved; wings when closed reach nearly over the first two- 



