Illustrations of Indian Ornithology ; 



large falcon used by the natives, which, hoing of a more patient and docile disposition, 

 will stay up above an hour. 



In the works on Falconry I have before alluded to, the name Shaheen is said to be 

 that by which it is known in Persia, as well as among the Mussulmen of India. Kohee being 

 the name given it by the Hindoos of the North of India, whence, iu all probability, comes 

 the name of the male bird in general use, viz. Koela, or Kohela, — though it is said to be 

 called Shaheen Bucha in Persia. It is said to bear the name of Lahecn in Toorkistan, and 

 Kubursh in Arabic. Among the localities for it given in the Native works of falconry are 

 Koordistan, Khorasan, Moultan and Cabool. Several ^-arietics are enumerated viz. the 

 red, the white, the blue, and the black, but these are merely shades of difference in the 

 colours and in the more or less distinctness of the markings. These variations, however, I 

 may remark, are very considerable in tliis falcon, as well as in the peregrines found in India, 

 and are probably in some measure owing to the long domestication, if I may so speak, of 

 these birds, as it is well known that birds moulting in confinement vary somewhat in the 

 shades of their plumage fiom those subject to the more vigorous actions of a wild state of life. 



Description. — I shall here content myself with giving a description of the young 

 Shaheen, and a very brief account of its changes, as I am waiting for further information 

 on the subject, and purpose giving in a future Plate, a figure of the adult bird, when I will 

 add a fuller and more accui-ate account of its changes of plumage than I am at present enabled 

 to give. 



Young Male — Plumage above generally of a dark cinereous, or dusky blackish 

 hue, darkest on the head, hind neck and cheek stripe — most of the feathers are narrowly 

 edged with rufous, those on the lower part of the back and rump more broadly so. There 

 is some rufous on the forehead, and on the back of the head where it forms a sort of crucial 

 mark. Tail paler than the rest of the body, faintly barred with rufous, and tipped the same 

 — Chin and tlu'oat pale rufous yellow, unspotted — cheeks of the same tint with narrow 

 dark stripes. The rest of the plumage beneath bright rufous or chesnut, with longitudinal 

 dark brown markings on the centre of the body, oblong spots on the sides, and aiTow 

 shaped markings on the lower part of the abdomen. Under wng coverts rufous barred 

 with brown; quills, barred with rufous on thch inner webs. Bill blueish, darker at the tip 

 — cere and orbitar skin pale yellow — irides dark brown — legs and feet yeUow. Length 15 

 inches — ^wing U — tail 5g — tarsus nearly S— centre toe and claTV ^2 — weight lib. 



