234 



Catalogue of Birds [Oct. 



II.— Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India, arranged ac- 

 cording to the modern system of Classification ; with brief Notes on 

 their Habits and Geographical Distribution, and description of new, 

 doubtful and imperfectly described Species :—By T. C. Jerdon, Assis- 

 tant Surgeon, 2d Madras Light Cavalry. 



{Continued from No. 24 page 91.) 



Supplement to Raptores. — By Walter Elmot, Esq. 



Since the publication of the first portion of Mr. Jerdon's Catalogue, I 

 have been enabled to add another beautiful accipitrine bird to his list. 

 It belongs to Genus Nisjetos, Hodgson ; and should fellow immediately 

 after A'. Niveus ? No. 12 in the Catalogue. 



12i. N. CristateUa, Temm. PI. Col. p. 2s2 — Shah Baz, H. 



Adult male of 1st year— Total length 24 inches ; length of tail, ll r Vi 

 of bill, straight to gape, 1 T \ ; targus from the angle of the outer jend 

 to the sole 4 T 4 5 ths ; central digit 2; do. claw l T yh ; hind digit ) ,-- r ths ; 

 do. claw l- 4 -j of wing closed lti indies; two central crest feathers,4; two 

 next, 2\: colour brown; beneath, brown intermixed with white; each 

 feather heing brown with a white edge, which increases with succeisive 

 moultings until the brown is reduced to a mere line. Crest dark hr>wn, 

 approaching to black. Quills barred transversely with darker brawn. 

 Tail with 4 well defined bands, the last forming the tip, and an inper- 

 fect one near the base making a fifth. Feathers of the tarsi with a slight 

 fawn tinge spotted with brown. 



Sits on the tops of the highest trees, on the watch for hares, per- fowl, 

 jungle-fowl, on which it swoops from its elevated perch. Sditary. 

 Shot in the Rampoor jungle, inland from Nellore, at the foot of tie eas- 

 tern ghats. 



I have now before me a living specimen of the species distingiishel 

 as Nisalos Nivens, and two skins of the same bird. The con 

 dimensions of an adult male of several moultings are — total length, 26 

 inches ; length of tail II ; of bill, straight to gape, 2 ; tarsus, from the 

 angle of the outer bend to the sole, 4 ; central digit 2 T 4 o ths ; Jo. 

 claw l T *o tus 5 nin(i d'gi 1 l To tns 5 d°' claw lio ths ! win o clos'd IS 

 weight 3-1 b. 13| drs. 



The Mhorungee is not crested. It is stronger and altogetha* more 

 powerful than the Shah Baz. Tarsus shorter; talons more pwerful. 



