of the Magellan Straits. "223 



the under surface very numerous, and broader than in any 

 other species. 

 Hah. Sardinia. 



3. Falco nigriceps. (The Western Peregrine Falcon.) 

 Rather smaller than F. communis and darker. The young 



different ; much more rufous and richly coloured. The adult 

 creamy white on the breast, without a single sign of a shaft- 

 stripe. 



Hob. Western side of North America from California to 

 Vancouver's Island, probably further north. 



The two birds procured in Japan, and mentioned by Mr. 

 Whitely (Ibis, 1867, p. 194), are in the British Museum, and 

 are unfortunately both young birds. They are of a more 

 slender build than is usual with the young female Peregrine 

 of Europe, and, from the strong wash of tawny buff on the 

 under surface, might be supposed to belong to Falco nigriceps. 

 They are not, however, quite so rufescent underneath, and the 

 centres to the breast-feathers are not nearly so dark ; thus I 

 at present prefer to keep them distinct from this bird, although 

 it is by no means improbable that they may ultimately turn 

 out to be the same. Latham's Oriental Falcon coming from 

 Japan, it can do no harm to keep these Japanese specimens, 

 which agree well with his descriptions, under that title, until 

 the arrival of an adult bird shall enable us to define the 

 species accurately. The late Mr. G. R. Gray referred both 

 these examples and the young Vancouver-Island specimens to 

 Falco orientalis^ with which he joined Falco anatum. I think, 

 however, that Falco anatum is nothing but the European 

 Peregrine, and the Vancouver birds are really the young of 

 Falco nigriceps., which Mr. Brown identifies as the species 

 found there (Ibis, 1868, p. 418). 



4. Falco micrurus. (The Himalayan Peregrine Falcon.) 

 With this bird Dr. Jerdon identifies Mr. Hume's lately 



described Falco atriceps ; and two specimens in the national 

 collection belong to this species. They are closely allied to 

 F. communis^ but are remarkable for their very nearly obsolete 

 barring underneath, and very pale coloration. 

 Hah. Himalayas. 



5. Falco peregrinator. (The Indian Peregrine Falcon.) 

 Blacker in all stages than any other allied species. When 



fully adult, deep rufous underneatli, against which the clear 

 blue of the rump and upper tail-coverts contrasts strongly. 

 Hah. The whole of India ; nowhere common. 



