1 91 8.] N'uUfication of some ladlan Fulcoa'uhe. 61 



necessary a couple of beats of the wings suffice to increase 

 the speed in a moment. 



Its curiously long and straight claws would seem to be 

 ill-adapted for striking heavy quarry, although the tarsi are 

 extremely powerful. So far as I have been able to see, 

 however, the result of the stoop is just as effective as it 

 is when made by Eagles with the usual powerful short hind 

 claw. A partridge which once nearly fell on the top of 

 rae, when struck by one of these Eagles, was dead before 

 it fell to the ground, and had its back quite cleanly ripped 

 from about the centre well up into the head, which was 

 nearly torn off by the one and same stroke as that which 

 opened the back. 



It has a shrill cry which it sometimes utters when soaring, 

 but it is on the whole a very silent bird, and one may be 

 within the haunts of this bird all day long without hearing 

 its plaintive call. When perching, it sometimes utters a 

 low croak, and when attacking anyone at its nest, utters 

 a rather loud croak as it stoops, possibly with a view to 

 instilling fear. 



Genus Microhierax. 



The genus Microhierax contains several tiny birds worthy 

 of a very high position among the Eagles and Falcons on 

 account both of their beauty of form and wonderful daring 

 and pluck. According to Sliarpe's Hand-list there are 

 six species of Microhierax confined to southern Asia and 

 Malaya, of which three enter Indian and Burmese limits. 

 Two of these, Microhierax melanoleucus and M.fringiUarius, 

 are very closely allied, whilst the third, M. ccerulescens (or 

 M. eutolmus), differs in having a white collar and red thighs. 



Microhierax melanoleucus. (PI. II. fig. 5.) 

 The White-thighed Falconet. 



This little Falcon is found over the whole of the Assam 

 Hills, both north and south of the Brahmapootra, from 

 Bhutan to Sadiya in the north, and from Cachar and Sylhet 



