630 Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society. [No. 1 16. 



6. Gen. Ierax. 

 Sp. Ierax. — Cohy Falcon. 



Chinese collection Cohy Falcon., Lath. Gen. Hist. 

 " This is a scarce bird, it was sent to me by a native gentleman 

 residing at Thekaree in the Gya district, who accompanied it by a 

 note, in which he acquainted me, that a bird of the species had not 

 been procured more than once in the memory of the oldest shikaree ; 

 and that it was thought to be a most auspicious circumstance to find 

 one on the estate. This is the Cohy Falcon of Latham, whose figure 

 of it is execrable, and it there appears any thing but a beautiful spe- 

 cies. I observe that the chesnut plumage on the wings and scapulars 

 of his bird, is not to be found in the present subject." — C W. Smith's 

 MS, Notes, 



The Cohy Falcon is one of the most beautiful of the Falcon race ; 

 and you perceive at once that it is a high caste bird. Its posture is 

 erect, its plumage glossy, form compact, and manner dauntless : while 

 the crest on the head adds much to its grace and beauty. One was 

 brought to me while at Midnapore, by a shikaree, or bird 

 fowler ; but I had not the heart to kill it, and after having kept it for 

 some weeks, it broke from its perch and flew away. All my endea- 

 vours to procure another specimen were vain. Dr. Evans has one 

 stuffed, and in good plumage, (which that belonging to the Society is 

 not,) and in both these, the chesnut plumage mentioned by Mr. Smith 

 as wanting in his specimen, is present : it may depend upon the sex 

 ^ or age of the specimen. The figure in Latham is certainly a very 

 bad one ; and gives no idea of the beautiful bird the Cohy Falcon 

 really is. 



7. Fam. Strigidje. 

 Genus Strix. 



Sp. Flammea. — Barn Owl. 

 Presented by P. Homfray, Esq. and mounted in the Museum. 

 Strix Flammea, Lin. Syst. Nat. L 133. Turton's Lin. I. 171. Gme- 

 lin Lin. L 293. Shaw's Gen. Zool. VIL 258. Stephens. XIIL 60. 

 Barn white Owl, Latham's Gen. Hist. L 355. 

 Chouette effraie. Diet. Classique D'Hist. Nat. IV. 80. 



