FALCONIDiE. 2 1 



Genus UYPOTRIORCHIS, Boie. 

 The characters in common with Falco, but the tarsi more 

 or less lengthened, somewhat slender, and covered in front 

 with large hexagonal scales. Toes very long and slender. 



28. Hypotriorchis Ruficollis. Falco Rufi- 



collis, Swain, W. Af., Vol. 1, p. 107, PI. 2 ; F. 

 Chicqueroides, A. Smith, S. Af. Q. J., p. 233. 



General colour above and below light bluish-ash; much 

 barred with brown-black ; tail tipt with white, and crossed 

 near the end by a broad black band ; head deep- rufous, with 

 black eyebrows and moustache ; chin white ; throat and chest 

 vinaceous ; legs yellow ; bill horn-coloured, yellow at base. 

 Length, 14" ; wing, 9f " ; tail, 7". 



The only specimen of this elegant little hawk that has fallen under 

 my notice was shot by my friend, A. V. Jackson, Esq., at Nel's Poort, 

 in the Beaufort division. 



29. Hypotriorchis Subbuteo. (Boie.) Falco 



Suhbuteo, Lath. ; F. Guvierii, Smith ; The Hobby. 



Head and upper parts of neck dark-blue grey ; rest of upper 

 parts pale- blue. Shafts of all the feathers black ; over each 

 eye a narrow rufous white stripe ; below each eye a black 

 crescent. Sides of neck, throat, breast, and belly tawny- 

 white. On the two last parts are many black blotches. 

 Under tail-coverts and thighs rufous. Outer vanes of wings 

 hoary-blue ; inner vanes dull-brown, crossed with white bars. 

 All margined and tipped with white. Tail slightly rounded, 

 the two central feathers blue-grey only ; the others blue-grey, 

 banded with pale rufous, and tipped with white. Length, 

 14" ; wing, 10" 9"' ; tail, 6" 2". 



Several specimens of this hawk have been received, viz. : — a fine 

 female from Swellendam ; a pair, ^ and 9 , from Mr. Jackson, at 

 Nel's Poort ; one ^ purchased in the flesh in Cape Town. A rich- 

 coloured male also fell to my own gun on the Cape Flats ; and Mr. 

 Atmore has procured it near Blanco. Mr. Sclater writes: "Never 

 before received from South of the Equator." * 



* This observation of Mr. Sclater' s opens up a curious subject of inquiry. Hare 

 this and other species only lately found their way do-svn the continent.' Oi" have they 

 escaped the notice of observers ? I incline to the former supposition, as I cannot 

 conceive that some of our common species should have escaped the notice of such men 

 as Dr, A. Smith and Le Vaillant. Look, for instance, at the extreme abundance of 

 Cypselus Apus and Rirundo Rustica throughout the colony. How came Le Vaillant 

 not to include these among his swifts and swallows? Surely not because they are 

 European, as he enumerated and figured Cypselus Melba and other European species. 



