69 
the wing coverts, had conspicuous rufous white double blotches 
or broad imperfect bars. In the female too, there was a trace 
of a pale frontal band continued as a supercilium right round 
the occiput, neither bird showed any sign of a cheek stripe. 
These were the measurements. Length M, 19°81, F, 22. Wing 
M, 15, F, 15-5; 2nd or 2nd and 3rd primaries the longest ; Ist 
primary M, 0°85, and F, 0-7, shorter. Tail M, 9:2, F, 10°75. 
Tarsus 2°13. Foot, greatest length M, 3°55, I, 3°6; greatest 
width M, 3:25, F, 3°5; mid toe M, 1:9, F, 2:1; its claw, along 
curve, M, 0°9, F. 0°95; hind toe M, 0°85, F, 0:95; its claw 
along curve M, 1-2, F’, 1-3; inner toe M, 1°3, I, 1°35; its claw 
along curve M, 1:0, F, 1:2. Bill, straight from edge of cere to 
pomt, (ME 61-05, FW, 1-P; alone carve; M, 1-3, FB, b3s'; 
from gape M, 1:42, F, 1-45; width at gape, M, 1:2, F, 1:25; 
height at margin of cere M, 0:6, F’, 0°65 ; length of cere in both 
0°20. 
Dr. Jerdon in a recent note to me mentions, that the Sacer 
is particularly common in the desert country. of Hurriana 
and Bhuttiana, where he has seen four or five in one morning’s 
ride. They are said, he adds, in these parts to feed much on 
the Sandha Lizard (Uromastic Hardwickii). The old birds 
that Dr. Jerdon has observed, had the heads, he tells me, nearly 
pure white, the upper surface pale brown, and the lower parts 
nearly devoid of markings. 
The Cherrug is not only trained to capture Cranes, Bustards, 
Houbara, Hares and the like, but also to attack and kill the 
common Kite, Milvus Govinda, which might be thought more 
than a match for it. Mr. R. Thompson sends me the fol- 
lowing account of a Kite chase. ‘“ The bird mounted at a 
free wild Milvus which, before the hood was removed, was 
quietly sailing over a village. The hawk flew straight in 
the direction of the Kite. The other seeing it coming, began 
to mount in a series of graceful gyrations. On, and up, and 
up, went the two birds till they appeared like small specks in the 
sky. Atlastit was seen that the Falcon had the better of his long 
winged quarry, he made one stoop and struck the Kite, but not 
effectively, as the stroke was avoided by the latter turning over 
and receiving it on his claws. ‘The chase became exciting, as 
the two birds began again to mount still higher. At last we 
saw that the Falcon was drawing away from the quarry. Some 
said he was going for good, but the faleoner remained confident 
in his bird. After gomg away a considerable distance from 
his quarry and thereby acquiring, what he wanted, superior 
height, the Sacer resumed the chase returning downwards like 
a thunder-bolt on the Tate. Blow after blow was struck, 
