FALCO C^RULESCENS. 



The Falco ca9rulescens, as it occurs in Java, has presented to me the following 

 observations. It has a very robust fabric. The bill has a double notch, which is deeper 

 than in any other species belonging to the " Falcones proprie sic dicti" of Bechstein that 

 I have examined. The entire length is six inches and an half. Upper parts blueish 

 black, and glossy. Throat, breast, axillae, sides of the neck, forehead, and a line 

 continued from the envu'ons of the bill over the eye and along the neck, white, with 

 a ferruginous tmt. Lower part of the breast, abdomen, vent, and thighs, ferru- 

 ginous. Hypochondria, thighs posteriorly, and a broad patch extending from the 

 eye along the side of the head, black ; the plumes which cover the thighs behind, 

 are terminated by long silky filaments, or radii, which are straggling and pendulous, 

 and by their laxity and irregvdarity afford a peculiar character to our bird. This is 

 not noticed by Edwards in the description of the specimen which he delineated. 

 From the General Zoology it appears that in one specimen, which was considered a 

 male bird, the under parts agreed with the bird as found in Java, excepting the 

 colour and distribution of the plumes just mentioned. In the bird figured by 

 Edwards, the under parts were bright orange-yellow, and it exceeded our bird 

 nearly one inch in length. 



I became acquainted with the Falco c^rulescens in the year 1806, in the eastern 

 districts of Java: here I obtained a single individual. I had no opportunity of 

 observing its manners personally, but the natives described it as uncommonly bold 

 in the pvirsuit of small birds. During the latter period of my abode at Surakarta, 

 several individuals were brovight to me fi-om the range of southern hills, which are 

 covered with forests. In other parts of the Island I have not observed it. 



