680 MR. A. ANDERSON ON THE [Nov. 21, 



base, rest bluish horny; iris brown. The bird, a female, is now in 

 the collection of Mr. Brooks, where it has been examined by Mr. 

 Hume, who pronounced it to be "F. atriceps." 



Without venturing an opinion myself as to whether this Falcon is 

 worthy of specific separation from the preceding species, I would 

 remark that both Col. Delme Radcliffe ('Field,' No. 969) and Mr. 

 Brooks consider the so-called F. atriceps to be merely an accidental 

 variety of F. peregrinator. Indeed the latter gentleman showed 

 me a specimen in his collection which has one side of its head like 

 F. peregrinator and the other like F. atriceps. 



Mr. Brooks, I may observe, does not regard his opinion on the 

 subject as possessing any weight, on account of the few specimens he 

 has seen of these two birds ; but Col. Radcliffe's is especially weighty, 

 considering he has had more Indian Falcons through his hands thau 

 any other man. 



Mr. Hume distinguishes this species from the other bird, both on 

 account of its paler mantle and the absence of the rich ochreous 

 colour below. When treating of F. atriceps he writes, " the whole 

 of the rest of the upper parts are a clear Peregrine slaty blue," 

 and, again, " beneath it is never so rufous as F. peregrinator usually 

 (but not invariably) is*. 



My specimens of these two Falcons (viz. F. peregrinator and F. 

 atriceps) correspond in these points as much as it is possible for one 

 bird to be like another. In fact my F. atriceps (if it is entitled to 

 distinction) has a dark slaty-black head, dark grey back, and is very 

 rufous beneath, being also well marked. If I remember right, 

 Mr. Hume is not now inclined to regard his new bird as a good 

 species, but is of opinion that all the Peregrinators of the North- 

 west Provinces belong to the atriceps type, which he considers to 

 be distinct from the specimen described by Sundevall from Southern 

 India. 



I take this opportunity of correcting an error that Dr. Jerdon has 

 been led into, in supposing that " many" f specimens of this Falcon 

 have been recently procured both by Mr. flume and Mr. Brooks. 

 My sole object in doing so is, that if such a statement is allowed to 

 remain unchallenged, it strengthens the position of the new species. 

 So far, therefore, from "many" specimens having been procured, 

 Mr. Hume has or had a short time ago only two, and Mr. Brooks 

 has also two — the one shot by me, and one got himself, a half-and- 

 half bird which has already been alluded to. 



11. Falco jugger, Gray. (The Jugger.) 



Abundant, and very partial to open country. I have seen five 

 and six in a morning's ride through large plains studded here and 

 there with solitary peepul trees, and have preserved a fine series 

 showing every gradation of colour, from the bird of the year, with 

 leaden-white legs, feet, cere, and uniform brown plumage beneath, 

 to the fully adult specimens, having the underparts pure white, and 

 legs &c. of a bright yellow. 



* Rough Notes, part i. p. 58. 

 t Ibis, vol. i. (3rd ser.) p. 237. 



