ASTL'k. JO 



an the outermost feathers, the interspaces and tips of all huffy white. Cere 

 yellow ; bill dusky with a bluish tinge. Iris pale yellow ; feet yellow. 



In the adult plumage the- upper parts are bluish grey ; the nape is mottled 

 with white, and the white bases of the scapular feathers show through in some 

 specimens ; the primaries are dusky black, with their inner webs of a buff colour 

 and barred darker brown, nearly black ; the secondaries are bluish grey and also 

 barred. The tail is ashy grey, and tipped with white, the bars on the lateral tail 

 feathers 9 11 m number, and of a dark brown colour.. The throat stripe is 

 less distinct than in the young, and the entire- lower surface is barred with 

 white and rufescent brown. The abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts 

 unspotted white; rest as in the young. The adult female is like the male but 

 larger, 



Length. Adult male 13*5 inches ; wing 7-9 ; tail 6' 3 ; tarsus 2. 



Adult Female. Length 14'$,; wing 8'3 ; tail. 6*4; tarsus 2*15. 



Hab. The Indian Peninsula generally, and" Ceylon, extending to Assam 

 and Burmah, and also to Beloochistan, Persia, and Afghanistan. Occurs in 

 Oudh, Bengal, Central Provinces, Rajpootana, Central India, Kutch, Kattiawar, 

 Guzerat, Concan, Deccan, and Southern India. Breeds in April and May 

 in Sind, Punjab, and N.-W. Provinces on large lofty trees on the edges of 

 streams or lakes, laying, usually three or four eggs, oval or pyriform in shape, 

 smooth, fine, glossless shells of a pure, delicate bluish white, as a rule without 

 markings or at most thinly sprinkled all over with very faint greyish specks 

 and spots. In size the eggs vary from 1*5 to r63 inches in length and from 

 r2 to 126 in breadth. It is commonly trained by natives, being easily 

 reclaimed and expert in, striking a quarry. 



17. Astur poliopsis, Hume, Stray Feathers, vol. ii. p. 325 (.1874); 

 id. vol. iii. p. 24 ; id. Hume and Davison, Birds of Tennaserim, vol. vi. p. 7 ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Ace. Br. Mus. Sub.-Sp. B r vol. i. p. I IO. Micronisus badius, 

 Sel. Ibis, 1864, p. 246; Swinhoe, Ibis, 1870, p. 84; id. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 411. 

 The GREY-FACED SHIKRA. 



Adult. Very similar to A. badius which it replaces to the eastward of Bengal. 

 Much paler blue above and below, banded with broader and brighter vinous 

 bands than its near ally ; wanting the nuchal rufescent collar and the central 

 throat stripe and with the cheeks and ear coverts unicolorous with the crown. 

 Legs and feet yellow ; claws black ; base of upper and lower mandible, except 

 tips, plumbeous ; rest of bill black ; cere greenish yellow. 



Length. 1 1 inches ; culmen 6*7 ; wing 7-3 ; tail 6'i ; tarsus 1*95. 



In the Birds of Tennaserim Hume and Davison give the following measure- 

 ments : 



Length. Expanse. Tail. Wing. Tarsus. Billfromgapo 



Males. 12-0 to 1275 24*010260 5-9 to 6-62 7-3108-12 roto.ro 0-8100-85. 

 Females. 13-0 to 14-6? 26-75 to 28-37 6 7 to 7'37 8 3 to 9' r # to 2 '5 '9 to ! 



