60 



There are only three Falcons that I have seen here ; the first two 

 true Falcons, with the typical characters and habits marked, and the 

 third with all the typical characters (excepting the two-toothed beak) 

 and the habits wanting. The first two are little Falcons, namely, 



The Chestnut-bellied Falcon, and 



The White mottle-bellied Falcon. 



They are both birds that strike their prey on the wing, and are 

 capable of killing birds nearly as large as themselves. The yellow- 

 bellied species may be seen very busy at dusk, hunting bats with 

 amazing swiftness. I have never been able to find either of their 



nests. 



The Two-toothed Baridi. 



A bird with precisely similar habits to the next three birds. Like 

 them, the Baridi never strikes, but confines himself to pillaging 

 nests and destroying yovmg birds. He is a sneaking marauder and 

 burglar, and not audacious enough to commit highway robbery and 

 murder, like the true Falcons. His wings are very short, and the 

 characteristic formula of the quill-feathers is wanting. Consequently, 

 I have placed this bird at the head of the succeeding group. 



The Plaid-chested Short-winged Hawk. 



The Brown-backed Short-winged Hawk. 



The Yellow-cered Short-winged Hawk. 



They are characterized by the same habits as the Baridi, stealing 

 eggs and murdering unfledged birds. 



The two next Hawks are large and powerful. The first is a large 

 Black Hawk. It is a very fierce and destructive bird. It vnll kill 

 rats and other small quadrupeds, as the Adouri (Cavia agouti), &c., 

 and will strike at and kill so large a bird as a Ciirrycurry {Ibis rubra) . 

 My huntsman Benjamm tells me that some time ago he shot a Curry- 

 curry, and before the bird fell to the ground, a large Black Hawk 

 seized it and bore it away. It is very destructive to hen-roosts. The 

 next species is found far up the river Demerary, and is by no means 

 common. Mr. John King, a very respectable bird-stuffer and an 

 observant naturalist, tells me that in a period of many years, con- 

 stantly occupied in procuring species of birds and animals, he has 

 only seen a few specimens of this bird. I have ascertained from the 

 same authority, that its habits are very similar to the Large Black 

 Hawk of the coasts. 



I only know of five Owls in this country ; of four I have procured 

 specimens. The first two, Booted Owls without ears, are common 

 enough, and I have not been able to ascertain anything in their habits 

 differmg from the well-known and frequently described habits of their 

 European congeners. 



