FALCO ICHTHYiETUS. 



Halisetus, are very different in physiognomy, it may be proper, in this place, to 

 enumerate the considerations by which I have been guided in this arrangement. 

 The chief of these have been the agreement which exists in the structure of the 

 claws, and in the habits and mode of life, between the Javan and European bird. 

 To shew the former, I refer to the authority of M. Cuvier ; and the latter, which I 

 have personally observed, is further supported by the testimony of M. Temminck. 

 The peculiar character of the claws in the Falco Halisetus, is given with great 

 precision by the celebrated writer first mentioned: — " leurs ongles sont ronds en des- 

 sous, tandis que dans les autres oiseaux de proie, ils sont creuses en gouttiere :" and 

 Mr. Temminck, in his " Observations sur la Classification methodique des Oiseaux 

 &c." in speaking of the Balbusard, (as forming one of the genera of Mr. Vieillot), 

 has the following remark, which, as it applies, in my opinion, to our bird, I shall 

 extract entire : — " chez cet oiseau, les formes des pieds et du bee s'accordent en tons 

 points avec notre balbuzard, hormis I'^galite de longeurs des ongles, qui dans cette 

 esp^ce sont inegaux. Je sais positivement que cet oiseau de proie de Java, vit 

 comme notre balbuzard, il est modelle comme lui, excepte qu'il a les ailes plus 

 courtes, mais ses tarses et ses doigts, quoique beaucoup plus forts, sont en tout 

 point semblables a ces parties dans notre balbuzard ; le plumage est tres-different." 



The peculiarities of our bird will appear from the following description. The 

 largest individual of the Falco Ichthysetus which I have examined, (a female, to be 

 mentioned in the sequel, which I obtained at the Lake of Damak), measures two 

 feet ten inches in length : the extent of the expanded wings is six feet, and the 

 bill measures from the gape to the claw two inches. In general form the bill 

 agrees with that of the Balbusard, but it is proportionally longer, and more 

 robust ; the upper mandible is abruptly inflected beyond the middle, has a long 

 claw, and strongly curved cutting edges or tomia. The lower mandible is obliquely 

 truncated at the point. The nostrils are large, and irregularly angular at the sides. 

 The cere is blueish, rather obscure, naked above, and bordered with hairs laterally. 

 The wings are several inches shorter than the taU. Of the quill-feathers the first is 

 of moderate length; the second is somewhat shorter than the third, fourth, and fifth, 

 which are longest, and nearly equal. The emargination is slight on the external, 

 and deep on the internal vanes of the quiU-feathers, from the second to the seventh. 

 The tail exceeds the wings more than two inches in length ; it is truncated, having 

 a small rotundity at the sides. A peculiar character of our bird exists in the length 

 and stoutness of the feet and legs. The tarsi are partially covered with plumes at 

 the base. The toes are of great length and strength ; the middle toe is longest ; the 

 lateral ones on each side are nearly of equal length, and the hind toe is proportiouT 

 ally robust. The feet are very rough underneath, being covered with sharp protu= 



