FALCO ICHTHY^TUS. 



berances. The claws are of uncommon size, strongly curved, regularly cylindrical, 

 and possess in a great degree the peculiarity belonging to the Balbusards of northern 

 climates. From the examination which I have been enabled to make of various 

 specimens, it appears that in Falco Ichthysetus they are truly cylindrical, while in 

 Falco Haligetus they are laterally compressed. They are admirably calculated for 

 a rapid seizure, and a firm hold. The claw of the middle toe has a smaU groove 

 internally. Regarding their relative size, it is to be noted, that of the anterior toes, 

 the claw of the interior is largest, and they successively decrease to the exterior. 

 The claw of the hind toe is scarcely perceptibly larger than that of the interior toe 

 before. 



The general colour of the Falco Ichthysetus above is brown, but it has different 

 shades and degrees of intensity. The posterior portion of the abdomen, the vent, 

 the thighs, and the tail, to within two inches of the extremity, are white. The 

 head is brown, with a tint of plumbeous gray, which is darker above, and paler at 

 the sides and underneath. The plumes of the upper part of the head are long, 

 acute, with the vanes on each side irregular, and in some individuals appearing 

 as if corroded. A space, nearly naked, extends from the anterior angle of the eye 

 to the base of the bill. Long decumbent vibrissee are scattered in small numbers 

 on this naked space, and on the forehead, the cheeks, the base of the bill near the 

 gape, and the throat. The cere is blue, and rather obscure. The irides have a 

 bright sulphur yelloAV colour. On the neck, breast, and the anterior part of the 

 back and abdomen, the brown inclines to ferruginous. On the wings the colour is 

 more intense, and in certain positions regarding the light, has a blueish cast. The 

 wings underneath are hoary. The brown is saturated and pure on the back, and 

 on the extremity of the tail and of the quill-feathers ; the shafts of the latter are 

 nearly black. The posterior white portion of the abdomen is separated from the 

 anterior parts by a determinate boundary line, extending almost regularly across the 

 abdomen. The feet are light blue, with a yellowish lustre. The scales are remark- 

 ably prominent and defined. The colour of the claws, which, from their cylindrical 

 form and strong curvature, give a marked character to this bird, is deep blackish 

 blue, and shining. The bill has a leaden hue. The female uniformly exceeds the 

 male in size. 



The Falco Ichthygetus is found in Java, always near lakes, or on the banks 

 of large rivers. It is by no means generally distributed. I met with it in two 

 situations only : one of these was on the banks of the largest river of the eastern 

 parts of the Island, the River of Kediri. Here it was very numerous, and I 

 £)btained most of the specimens which I afterwards brought to England, I fre- 



