394 MR. R. C. BEAVAN ON INDIAN RAPTORES. [Juue 11, 



skin round the eye pale j^ellow. This is one of the boldest and most 

 graceful of the small Indian liaptores, and not uncommon in some 

 parts of the country. 



17. TiNNUNCULTJS ALAUDARius, Brisson. The Kestril. 



At Baramussia in Maunbhoom, on 8th March, 1865, I shot a 

 young bird in plumage changing to that of the adult. His dimen- 

 sions were as follows : — Length 13i inches ; wing 9|, expanse 23 ; 

 tail G ; tarsus 1 ^ : feet in colour a bright yellow, with black claws. 

 Round eyes and the cere light yellow. Beak greenish blue, ap- 

 proaching greenish yellow near the top (where it meets the cere), 

 lighter yellow underneath. And again at Simla, in August 18(36, I 

 procured both adult and young specimens, and observed several of 

 the latter in Dr. Stoliczka's collection from the interior of the hills. 

 (Cf. Ibis, 1867, p. 142.) I give the dimensions of another shot by 

 me, in November 1866, near Umballah. Length 13| inches, wing 10, 

 tail 6|, tarsus 1§, spread of foot 2|, extent 28| : bill and claws 

 bluish black, cere yellowish white, legs light orange-yellow. 



Of that peculiar pigmy genus Hierax I never yet met with a spe- 

 cimen alive ; and it must be confined therefore to a very limited range 

 in India ; for I, who have been over a good portion of it, never heard 

 it mentioned even by the natives in any part I have visited. 



22. AsTUR TRiviRGATUs, Tcmm. The Crested Goshawk. 



One of the very few birds of prey procured by me in the Maun- 

 bhoom district in 1865 was identified by Mr. Gurney as a young 

 bird of this species, and interested him as being in exactly the same 

 stage of plumage as another received by him shortly afterwards 

 from the island of Formosa. (Gurney in epist. 22nd Jan., 1866.) 



The same gentleman in another letter tells me that " this species 

 is thought by Professor Schlegel to comprise two races, the Malay 

 race being, in his opinion, distinct from the Indian, and that addi- 

 tional adult Indian specimens would be interesting as tending to 

 elucidate this point" (J. H. G.). 



23. MiCRONisus RADIUS, Gmclin. The Shikra. 



I have procured specimens of this bird on several occasions — in 

 the Maunbhoom district in 1864, and since. I have seen it flown by 

 a falconer at Quail, near Kalka, in 1866, although without much 

 success, owing to the density of the vegetation : it was then thrown 

 from the hand at the flying quarry ; and this appears to be the usual 

 native custom with such small hawks. 



At Mahasoo near Simla, I shot a bird which Col. Tytler called a 

 species of Micronisus that he knew, having previously obtained it 

 near Umballah ; but as I do not know exactly to which species to 

 refer it, I subjoin the description from my note-book. 



Micronisus, sp.? 



Mahasoo, near Simla, September 25th, 1866. Young bird of the 

 year apparently. Sex 6 . Irides bright yellow, edged with black ; 



