20 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



26. FalCO Frontalis, Daud. ; F. Galerkulatus, 

 Shaw., Vol. 7, p. 149 ; Le Faucon Huppe, Le V., p. 28. 



According to Le Vaillant, this bird closely resembles Hypo- 

 triorchis Tibialis in size and general colouriog. The tail is 

 equally banded in grey and black. The folded wings extend 

 beyond the tail. The crest is very conspicuous, and fre- 

 quently elevated, extending over and beyond the head when 

 at rest. The lower mandible is deeply truncated at the end, 

 as well as notched on either side. Claws very sharp and 

 strong. Female one-fourth larger than the male, with a 

 smaller crest. 



It frequents beaclies, lakes, and rivers, as it only feeds on fish, 

 crabs, and small shell-fish, which it can break open with its powerful 

 beak. It either builds on sea-side rocks, or else on trees, near rivers 

 abounding with fish. The young and old birds remain together till 

 the next pairing season. 



Le Vaillant does not inform us in what parts of the colony he pro- 

 cured his specimens ; but from his description we are led to believe it 

 must be widely distributed. Sundevall denies the existence of such a 

 bird, but suspects it to be an example of Falco Communis with a false 

 crest inserted. I have never met with this bird, nor has it been sent 

 tome by any of my correspondents. I fear it is another of Le Vail- 

 lant's fabrications.* 



27. Falco Biarmicus, Temm., Pi. Coi. t, 324. 



Adult d , general colour above bluish ash ; transversely 

 barred with dark-grey; head clear rufous, marked on the 

 forehead, side, and nape with black : under parts clear 

 rinaceous, marked on the thighs with a few black spots. 

 Tail underneath barred grey and ash. Cere and legs yellow ; 

 eye orange. Length, 17" ; wing, 12|" ; tail, 7". 



A fine P is more rufous-brown in the general appearance, 

 and is much mottled on the breast and belly. 



Scattered throughout the colony, but not common anywhere. It is 

 very rapid on the wing, and a great scourge to poultry and game of all 

 kinds. It will not hesitate to dash at a flock of pigeons feeding close 

 to the door of a dwelling and in the midst of people working on the 

 werf. I have never yet heai-d of a nest being discovered. 



* While in London lately, Lord Walden informed me that, being engaged in 

 studying the Drongo shrikes, he visited a museum on the Continent, in which was 

 retained a type specimen of Le Vaillant's, for the purpose of inspecting the bird from 

 which Le Vaillant had made his description. Certain peculiarities in the structure 

 led his lordship to believe that the bird in question was an old friend in a new coat. 

 and mentioning his suspicions to the curator of the museum, that gentleman had the 

 specimen damped, as if for remounting, when the fact revealed itself that a false 

 white breast had been carefully gummed upon the original skin, from which the 

 natural black featders had been carefully removed. 



