1850.] Conspectus of the Ornithology of India. 331 



N. elegans, N . fringillarum, et N. peregrinus, Brehm. 



Bassun Falcon, Latham. 



Bashd,* female; Bdshin, male; H. 

 Hab. Europe, Asia, and N. Africa : in India numerous in the 

 hilly parts, rare and accidental on the alluvium of Lower Bengal. 

 N. B. We have not seen this species from the eastern side of the Bay 

 of Bengal. It is, however, an inhabitant of Japan. 



Remark. The common Sparrow-hawk of N. America, Acc.fuscus, 

 (Gm.), v. F. velox et pennsylv aniens, Wilson, according to Dr. Schlegel, 

 appears to differ only from that of Europe in being rather less robust, 

 and in the markings on the under-parts of the young assuming the 

 form of tears ; and the corresponding species of S. Africa (extending 

 to the N. E. of that continent), Ace. rufiventris, A. Smith, v. F. exilis, 

 Tern., p. c. 496, et F. perspicillaris, Ruppell, according to the same 

 naturalist, seems to differ only from that of Europe in the lower parts 

 of the adult being of a reddish-ferruginous, with the markings a little 

 deeper-coloured and somewhat indistinct. 



41. A. nisoides, Blyth, J. A. S. XVI. 727. 



Syn. ? Sumatran Ace. fringillarius of the Appendix to Lady 

 Raffles' s Memoir of Sir Stamford Raffles, p. 549. 

 Shikap Ballam (J), Sum. (Raffles). 

 Hab. Malayan peninsula ; Sumatra ? 

 Remark. Mr. G. R. Gray is mistaken in referring this as a syno- 

 nyme of Ace. virgatus, if the latter be truly the Indian Bdzra, as 

 he arranges it. We rather suspect that the present species is the true 

 virgatus of the Malay countries. 



42. A. virgatus? (Tern. PL Col. 109, male; Jerdon's 27/. Ind. Zool. 

 pi. 4, 29). 



Syn. Falco virgatus, Temminck, apud G. R. Gray. 

 A. besra, Jerdon ; and the female, 

 A. fringillarius apud Jerdon, Catal. 

 A. Dussumieri apud Sykes. 

 Nisus (nee Sparvius) minutus (?) Lesson. f 



* The name Basha is however masculine. 



f Referred by Dr. Pucheran to " Nisus soloensis" in the Rev. Zool. par la Soc. 

 €uv. 1850, p. 210; a species assigned by him to Sumatra on the authority of 

 Duvaucel, and to the Coromandel Coast and Ceylon on that of Leschenault, which 



