Descriptions of Birds. 145 



XII. — Descriptions of some supposed New, or Imperfectly 

 Described, Species of Birds. 



By Lord Arthur Hay, 

 A. D. C. to the Marqtiis of Tweeddale. 



Niscetus albo-niger, — Bl. young ? 



From Malacca, and perfectly distinct from any of the other 

 species of the group, though approaching nearest to N. Cris- 

 tatellus in the young plumage, being however much smaller. 



This bird has the head crested as in N. Cristatellus ; the 

 feathers forming the crest being black, slightly edged with 

 dirty white at the tips; all the under parts white washed with 

 light fulvous, darkest on the flanks, and thigh coverts; upper 

 parts brown, lightest on the head, two middle tail feathers 

 similarly brown with three distinct broad black transverse 

 bars, and a fainter one near the base of the tail ; the outer 

 rectrices lighter on their inner webs, and all the feathers 

 edged with dirty white at the tips ; under surface of the tail 

 light, the black bands being seen distinctly only through 

 the two middle and the two outer tail feathers. Primaries 

 deep brown ; outer webs of the first black ; wings graduated ; 

 first quill |ths the length of the second, which is shorter than 

 the third, while the fourth and fifth are nearly equal, though 

 the fifth is longest ; the under side of the wing is white near 

 the flanks and shoulders, while the lower part is barred 

 with black. The tarsus is closely feathered to the base of the 

 toes. The whole form is strictly that of a Nisaetus. 

 Dimensions. 



Wings 11 inches. 



Tail 10 „ 



Tarsus 3/^ „ 



Hallux lfV „ 



Middle toe 1 T 4 7 inches. 



Bill from gape.. .1-^ ,, 

 base...l 



If my bird should on comparison be found distinct from 

 albo-niger, I propose the name Malay amis. 



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