o7 
coloured patch, in the centre of the abdomen,) [ have seen many 
Peregrines more rufous. This bird of Col. Tytler’s, in common 
with most that I have seen, (but not all) has an obscure pale 
frontal band. 
Mr. R. Thompson sends me the following note, but I am by 
no means sure, whether his remarks, and those which he quotes 
from Major Radcliffe, H. M.’s 88th, really apply to this species, 
or to F. Atriceps. 
“In the Field newspaper of the 2nd of May, 1868, Major E. D. 
Radcliffe, 88th Regiment, gives some interesting accounts of 
the Shaheen and its habits. Amongst others, having described 
one that had been kept, and moulted for fourteen years, flying 
still in capital style, and killing vast quantities of game of a 
miscellaneous description, he goes on to notice a habit of the 
wild ones, of catching Bats, after having gone to roost with full 
crops. This the Shaheen will often do, and I have known of an 
instance, when the Falcon eat the Bat it had just caught. It was 
apparently still hungry. The Shaheen is not the only bird of 
prey that will do this, I have seen the Shikra, Wicronisus badius 
eatch and kill Bats, sometimes eating, at other times throwing 
them down dead. My Goshawks often fluttered at Bats, which 
happened to pass close over where they were picketted, to enjoy 
the cool of the evening. 
“The Shaheen is an early bird. In the first gleam of day- 
light one may just see it shoot past, like an arrow, at some un- 
lucky early bird. Late in the evenings, it will often sit and 
watch for returning flocks of Mynas, and Parrots, and having 
selected one, will dash at it, surely nailing a victim, which it will 
carry back to its perch and devour. It takes the Turtur risorius 
more than any other bird, though Pigeons are not safe from it. 
I once saw one dash into a vertical net set with a small quail fora 
bait, it was late in the evening, and the Shaheen was on a tree 
not a hundred yards from the net. 
“‘ When used to take Pigeons, it becomes very destructive to 
dove cots, usually selecting the highest mounted and best flyer 
of the flock. 
“ After a full meal in the daytime, or early morning, the Sha- 
heen will retire to some tank or rivulet, and there enjoy a good 
bath. It remains for hours seated on a tree, cleaning and dry- 
ing its feathers after its ablutions. 
“TJ have lately seen one, an adult, doing its best with a small 
flock of wild Pigeons, without succeeding in striking a single 
bird. I have seen this once or twice before, but the Falcons in 
those instances were young birds, this one was an adult.” 
L append exact dimensions of a male. Length, 14°87. Wing, 
