NOTES. 501 



albido ferrugiuea striolis tenuibus uigris : colore rufo et latitu- 

 dine striolarum deorsum aucfcis. Latera corporis, venter, tectrice8 

 alse inferiores et tibese crebre, saturate rufo nigroque, maculata 

 fasciata. Alee nigra? remiges maculis pogonii interioris trans- 

 versis, fulvis. Penna la et 3a asquales. Rectrices fere 

 sequales nigra?, raargine apicis albidae ; pogonium internum 

 maculis 9 augustis transversis rufescentibus ; pogonium ex- 

 ternum maculis obsoletis, cinerascenti micantibus. Pedes 

 validissimi, toti flavi. Rostrum fuscescens. Cera et orbita 

 fusco-flavescentes. Iris nigrofusca. Oculi magni, valde 

 convexi prominuli. Lougit. 18 poll, sv* (in cute asservata 

 cauda 2^ poll ultra alas.) Alaflexa, 330, mill ; tarsus, 47 ; digitus 

 medius, 53 ; cum ungue 68 ; cauda, 180. Rostrum e fauce, 31 ; 

 altit, 20 ; cum crauio, 70 ; Cubitis, 98. Statura F. peregrini, vel 

 paullo robustior rostrum proesertim crassius et convexius 

 apparet, alas, ratione reliquarum partium, paullo breviores. 



On my homeward voyage from Bengal I obtained this 

 handsome Falcon in 6° 20' N. between Ceylon and Sumatra, 

 rather nearer the last named island, and at least 70 (Swedish) 

 miles from the nearest land, viz., theNicobar Islands. It settled 

 upon the edge of a sail, whence it was shot down. I have only 

 seen the specimen described, and have procured no information 

 of any similar bird, either in books or collections. It might 

 perhaps be regarded as a tropical variety of Falco peregrinus, 

 but the pure black on the upper parts, the shorter wings, and 

 unusually large projecting eyes, give this bird a marked dis- 

 tinction from the common form of that species. F. peregrinus 

 occurs, moreover, in New Holland, gray as with us, according 

 to Vig. and Horsf., Linn. Trans. Vol/XIIIf 



It seems that a considerable number of birds annually fly 

 across from Sumatra and Ceylon, though they are separated by 

 a sea of more than 200 (Swedish) miles in width. Only 

 during my voyage through this channel I procured ten or 

 twelve birds, most of which are mentioued above, met with half 

 way between these two islands. 



All sailors have opportunities of seeing land birds at a 

 very considerable distance from shore ; and it seems not in- 

 credible that certain strong flying species may cross the ocean 

 even between America and the Old Continent, though, probably, 

 most of these which venture upon such a journey perish before 

 they have proceeded half way. Amongst other instances it 

 may be mentioned that Catesby, in his last voyage to America, 



* The Swedish inch is given as equal to 09742 of an English inch, 

 f The New Holland bird is, however, distinct from peregrinus; it is the F. 

 welanogenys (Gould). — H. E. S. 



