220 
I have noticed that this bird may often be seen soaring high 
over a nearly dry jheel, then descending and hovering from 
place to place almost like a Kestril, but with a scarcely percep- 
tible movement of the wings. When on the wing they are 
readily distinguished, by the white, slightly spotted or barred 
under surface, and broad rounded wings. 
When they come down on their prey, they drop on it softly 
and silently, and not with a rush like the Pulviventer, or Impe- 
rialis. The feet are covered with Armadillo-like scales, of 
which a few seem to be shed from time to time; new ones (at 
first of a pure pearly white) growing up from below to replace 
them. The bird by its enormous head and eyes, and huge ear 
holes, and by its inner toe claw larger than any of the others ; 
small cere and comparatively silent flight, reminds one much of 
the larger Owls. 
Although this present species extends, according to Mr. Wal- 
lace, as far east as Timor and Floris, and is found through- 
out India, Syria, and the south of Kurope as well as in the 
north of Africa, this latter continent is par excellence, the 
head quarters of the dry plains-loving Circacti. Besides C. 
Gallicus, C. Pectoralis, Zonurus, Fasciolatus and Beaudoni are 
enumerated by Verreaux from various parts of Africa, and I 
have seen subsequently notices of two other distinct species, 
whose names I have unfortunately forgotten. 
Dr Jerdon’s measurements strike me as too large to represent 
average examples. I subjoin measurements recorded from fresh 
birds, of which Nos. 1 and 2 were old birds, Nos. 3 and 5, two- 
year old, and No. 4a yearling. _ 
Length. Expanse. Tail. Wings Weight. Wing. 
fall short 
of tail by 
No. Il Female,...... 99°95 765 13°25 “'195"4 ths Vee 
No. 2 Female,...... 27°25 70:0 12:25 1:18 4Ibs. 21:5 
ING io Male, . . soe nas 25°70 WOO 17s) O20 Ss ihe 20s 
No. 4 Y. Female, .. 27°69 71°00 12:0 0:0 2dibs. 21°25 
Wo. 5 Female,...... 27°75 70:0. ? 0:5 3:25 Ibs. 21:0 
T will add detailed measurements and descriptions of two 
other females, the one No. 6, a very old, the other No. 7, quite a 
young bird; in weight they differed vastly, in lmear dimen- 
sions very little. 
No. 6, an old female, shot 23rd February. No. 7, young 
female, shot 26th February. . 
Dimensions (those first given are of No. 6, the second ones 
those of No. 7.) 
Length, 28°75-27'5. Expanse, 68-69. Weight in Ibs., 4:19- 
2:81. Wing, 20°75-20°63. In both, the 3rd and 4th primaries 
