248 DR. P. L. SCLATER ON A NEW FALCON. [May 24, 
stances, be brought by the Gulf-stream to the coast of Shetland. 
I have seen no specimens ; but the size precludes it being the Rhytina, 
to which Fleming refers it. 
“‘The carcase of one of these animals was, in 1785, thrown ashore 
near Leith : it was much disfigured ; and the fishermen extracted its 
liver and other parts, from which a considerable quantity of oil was 
obtained ’’ (Stewart, Elem. N. H. i. 125), 
‘Zetland Mermaid. Animal 3 feet long; upper part resembling 
a Monkey with short arms, and distinct, not webbed, fingers ; lower 
part like a fish; skin smooth, grey, without hairs or scales ; breast 
pectoral ! !’>—Laurence Edmondstone in Edinb. Magaz. Sept. 1823, 
p- 343, copied in Fleming, Brit. Anim, 30, 
2. CHARACTERS or A New Species or FALCON, DISCOVERED BY 
THE LATE Dr. DicKINSON, OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN Mis- 
SION, ON THE RiveR Surré. By P. L. Scuater, M.A., 
Pu.D., F.R.S., SECRETARY TO THE SOCIETY. 
The collections of the late Dr. Dickinson, who was Surgeon to the 
Central African Mission until his death at Chibisa’s, on the River 
Shiré, on the 17th March 1863, have been kindly submitted to my 
inspection by his brother, Mr. R. Dickinson, of Jarrow-on-Tyne. 
Amongst them are three examples of a I'alcon allied to Falco 
ardesiacus, Vieill., which appears to be new to science, and which I 
propose to name after its discoverer. 
FALCO DICKINSONI, sp. nov. 
3. Cineraceo-niger ; capite undique pallide cinereo, hujus plumis 
medialiter nigro striolatis: uropygio albicante, cinereo tincto : 
cauda albicanti-cinerea nigro frequenter transvittata, fascia 
subterminali lata nigra, rectricum apicibus ipsis cinereo-albi- 
cantibus ; ventre nigricante, brunneo tincto; tibtis et crisso 
cinerascentibus: alarum pogoniis internis albis, nigro fre- 
quenter transvittatis : rostro nigro, cera et pedibus flavis : re- 
migibus 2" et 3'° equal. et longissimis, cauda rotundata. 
Long. tota 13:5, alee 8°2, caudee 5:2, tarsi 1°4 poll. Angl. 
2. Mari similis, sed major, et abdomine brunnescentiore. 
Long. tota 14:5, alee 9°1, caude 6:0, tarsi 1°5. 
Hab. In ripis fl. Shiré in Africa orientali. 
Obs. The general form of this bird is completely that of Falco 
ardesiacus (Vieill.) of Western Africa. Together with that bird and 
Falco zoniventris, Peters, of Madagascar, it evidently forms a distinct 
section among the Hobbies (Hypotriorchis), for which I suggest 
the subgeneric name Dissodectes*, indicating thereby the peculiarity 
of their doubly-toothed mandible—a feature in which they resemble 
the Harpagi of South America. 
* dioods, duplex, et dyxrns, mordicator 
