172 



DR. J. J. KAUP ON NISI AND ASTURES. 



[Jan. 24, 



the primaries of old birds withoiit bands and with white spots. 

 Tail with four bands, which grow narrower with age, and disap- 

 pear almost entirely on the outer and middle feathers. Tarsus and 

 digits slender and short ; the latter with rather broader soles. 



At present only one species is known, which is found frequently 

 on the continent and in the Indian archipelago, viz. — 



Tachyspiza soloensis. 



Falco soloensis, Linn. Tr. xiii. p. 137. 



Fig. 2. 



Tachyspiza, Kaup. 



Erythrospiza, Kaup. 



Form powerful and compact. Emarginations on the inner vane of 

 the first to fifth primaries. Point of wing equal to from four fif- 

 teenths to four thirteenths of the entire length of the wing. Beak 

 straighter than that of Nisus. The bars on the long tail frequently 

 disappear with age, and in young birds they are never so numerous 

 as in Uraspiza. 



The species are found only in Celebes and the Moluccas, and 

 when adult have a uniformly coloured rusty-red under- plumage. 



1. Erythrospiza trinotata, Temm. 



Falco trinotatus, Temm. Leyd. INIus. 

 Nisus trinotatus, Schlegel, Valkv. t. 19. 

 Astur trinotatus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 33. 



The smallest species. Above bluish grey ; throat wliitish ; below 



