183 



Gen. XC. POLIHIERAX Kaup (1847). 



Type by monotypy Falco semitorquatus Smith. 



[ = Poliohierax Sharpe et auct.] 



Nostrils as in Microhierax ; tarsus less feathered 

 in front ; wing with second primary longest, first 

 nearly equal to third, 4th shortest ; size small 

 (length under 8 in.) 



*285. Polihierax semitorquatus semitorquatus 

 (Smith), Rep. Expl. Centr. Afr., p. 44 

 (1836). [Near Latakoo, Bechuanaland.] 

 African Pigmy Falcon. 



Wing c? 117, ? 121 mm. ; S above bluish 

 grey ; head darker ; forehead, sides of face 

 and hind neck pure white ; quills and tail 

 brown, spotted on outer and barred on inner 

 webs with white ; upper tail-coverts white, 

 as well as entire under parts ; $ interscapu- 

 lary region and scapulars deep vinous 

 chestnut. 



S. Africa, 

 Bechuanaland 

 to Damaraland, 

 Orange Free 

 State, and 

 Basutoland. 



285a. Polihierax semitorquatus 

 Heugl., Ibis, 1860, p. 407. 

 White Nile.] 

 Abyssinian Pigmy Falcon. 



castanonotus^ 

 [Mere Belenia, 



S. Abyssinia, 

 Somallland, 

 Brit. E. Africa. 



Wing (J 115-119, $ 120 mm. ; above with 

 head and neck darker slaty grey ; below 

 with white bars on under surface of wings 

 and tail broader ; wings rather longer ; 

 feet stronger and stouter. 



1 Heuglin afterwards withdrew this name, as his supposition that the mantle 

 was chestnut in both sexes proved incorrect. The characters I have given, however, 

 serve to distinguish the northern from the southern race. ZedUtz (J. f. O;, 191 4, 

 p. 675) has described P. j. deckeri from S. SomaHland, while Oberholser had previously 

 described P. s. homopterus from W. SomaUland, but I am unable to separate these 

 supposed races from castanonotus. 



