110 Asiatic Society . [No. 121. 



gion ; the latter, indeed, being specifically the same on both continents. The magni- 

 ficent specimen of H. Macei now exhibited, as also another which I have procured and 

 set aside as a skin, both of them females, measured 2 feet 8 inches long by 6\ feet in 

 extent of wing. The form is typical, as exemplified by H. albicillus and H leucoce- 

 phalus. 



The other species I have not^ been able to determine : it belongs to the group of 

 Osprey-like Ernes {Icthya'etus, Lafresnoy), peculiar to the countries bordering on 

 the Indian Ocean, and exemplified by 7. Horsfieldi {Falco icthya'etos, Horsf.), /. 

 blagrus (i/. plumbeus? Hodgson), the Australian I.leucog aster, Gould, and I believe 

 some others.* Our Museum previously contained examples of/. Horsfieldi and I.blagrus. 

 The present species is figured in one of the drawings of the late indefatigably laborious 

 Dr. Buchanan Hamilton, and a female procured in the vicinity of Calcutta measured 2£ 

 feet long by 6 feet l\ inch in extent of wing; the latter from bend 21^ inches, and tail 14 

 inches : bill, including cere, 2| inches over curve of upper mandible, and 2| inches from 

 its point to the gape ; tarse posteriorly 3| inches ; talons moderately large, with trenchant 

 inner edges (wherein this species differs from/. Horsfieldi, and less decidedly from 

 /. blagrus), and foot very rough underneath. Bill whitish-horny, having a tinge of 

 bluish for the basal half, and becoming dusky towards the tip ; cere scarcely differing 

 in hue, but slightly waxy. Irides white, or rather becoming white, being a little 

 suffused with brown in the specimen. Legs and toes ivory-white, as in H. Macei ; 

 but differing from that species inscutation, having a series of nine large scales along the 

 whole outer front surface of the tarse, and those on the toes, especially on the hind one, 

 being remarkably prominent and projecting towards the talons. General aspect, at first 

 glance, not unlike that of an Osprey (Pandion) ; the head, neck, under-parts, thighs, 

 and tail, white, tinged more or less with rusty-brown, and the new feathers, which are 

 everywhere appearing among the rest, more deeply so, whence these parts, excepting 

 perhaps the tail, would have become clear pale rufous, confusedly mottled with dusky 

 on the sides of the breast and upon the crown : the tail is much cuneated, and has 

 some irregular scattered dark spots on its basal half, while the extremity is confusedly 

 freckled with dusky, darkest on the outermost feathers, the extreme tips being whitish : 

 wings and mantle aquiline-brown ; the primaries dusky, the interscapularies slightly 

 tipped with white, and the small wing-feathers which are impended (more or less) by 

 the scapularies, conspicuously bordered with the same; an ill-defined bar of paler 

 brown across the wings. The intestines of this bird were elongated, as in the Osprey : 

 in its stomach were found three small water-snakes, some articulae of Crustaceans, the 

 humerus of a bird the size of a Mynah, and the remains of a small rodent. Dr. Cantor 

 recognises the species as one which he has examined and found aquatic snakes in its 

 stomach. Should it be undescribed, I proposed to designate it /. cultrunguis. 



* Athene Indica ; Noctua Indica, Franklin, P. Z. S. 1831, 115; Strix Brama, 

 Temminck. A specimen also occurs in Mr. Frith's collection. It is probable this 

 little Owl will soon be found to be admissible into the European Fauna, for it is ascer- 

 tained to be " common about the foot of the mountains near the town of Erzeroom" 

 (P. Z. S. 1839, 119).f 



* The Society has since received a small species from the Malay Peninsula, nearly 

 allied to /. Horsfieldi, and which I shall describe as /. nanus. — Cur. As. Sou. 

 f Vide especially a notice in Mag. Nat. Hist, for October 1841, p. 125. 



