123 
identical with the Indian IM. Badius, and it is probably the spe- 
cies referred to under this last name in Professor Blasius’s List 
ofthe birds of Europe, p. 4; but Mr. Gurney is very confident 
that the two birds, though nearly allied, are quite distinct.” 
Mr. Bree’s dimensions and descriptions are as follows :— 
Length. Carpus to Tarsus. Tail. Middle 
tip of wing. Toe. 
“1. Asia, male adult, Lau- 
retta, Beyrout, 14:2 routs) cB Os 1°4 
2.* Syria, female adult, 
Verreaux, 14°5 9°6 Or 1 Oi¢ 1°4 
3. Young female, Lauret- 
ta, Beyrout, 155 0-9 Ce OF 1-4 
4. Young male, Lauretta, 
Beyrout, 13°3 8:3 T'8 65 2 
“Description. The adult male has the upper plumage dark 
slaty brown, with some white spots on the nape and upper tail 
coverts. Primaries nearly black, and barred with lighter black 
on the basal half beneath. Below, the general tint is rufous, 
lighter on the croup ; the chin and sides of the head are slaty, 
light slate colour; the rest of the body, thighs and under wing 
coverts barred with ferruginous and silvery gray; under tail 
coverts white. ‘T'ail above, dark slaty brown, below lighter ; the 
two central feathers, both above and below, being rare colorous; 
the others silvery gray, broadly barred through the feathers 
with black. Beak, black; tarsi and toes yellow; claws black. 
“The female has the upper plumage lighter than that of the 
male, and the upper tail feathers have traces of black bands, 
while all the under ones are barred through. Primaries nearly 
black, barred on their inner webs with white, the whole length 
of the feather, chin and sides of the head grey with light brown 
bars and spots. ‘The rest of the body, under wing coverts and 
thighs barred with haix brown and silvery grey; under tail 
coverts white, slightly barred with brown. Beak black; tarsi _ 
and toes yellow. 
“ Young birds of the year have the head prettily striped longi- 
tudinally with rich brown of two shades and white. The 
upper plumage rich dark brown; the edges of the primaries, 
wing and upper tail coverts bordered with fawn colour. The 
chin is white with a few longitudinal dark streaks; the crops 
and chest broadly marked with brown and white longitudinal 
* This female, it will be observed, is shorter than the male, though 
otherwise larger. This depends entirely upon the mode in which the skin 
has been prepared. 
