60 FALCONID.E. 



inner web, the second and third sinuatcd on the outer web. 

 The forehead and throat are white ; round the neck is a 

 reddish brown ring spotted with black ; the cheeks are the 

 same above and below the eye is pale reddish white ; from 

 the corners of the month run a few black streaks pointing 

 downwards, indicating the characteristic moustache which all 

 true Falcons possess in a greater or less degree. The under 

 wing-coverts are yellowish white with dusky spots and streaks. 

 The under plumage is rufous, each feather upon the breast 

 and flanks marked down the shaft Avith a dusky streak ; the 

 thighs are rufous with narrower streaks ; the legs and 

 toes, cere and eyelids are yellow ; the beak is blue at 

 the base and tipped with dark horn ; the irides dark 

 brown. 



The female differs very much from the male ; the grey 

 colour which is so prevalent upon his plumage is only per- 

 ceptible in hers upon the scapulars and wing-coverts, where 

 it occupies the centre of each feather ; these feathers are 

 bordered with rufous and have black shafts. The greater 

 coverts of the wing, and upper coverts of the tail, are brown, 

 bordered with dirty yellowish white. The tail is greyish 

 brown, tipped with yellowish white, and crossed with fine 

 yellowish white bars. The throat is plain white ; the ring 

 round the neck, the breast, and under parts are yellowish 

 white streaked and spotted with dusky ; the nape of the 

 neck and thighs tinged with rufous. The crown of the 

 head and nape are rich reddish brown, with dusky streaks 

 down the shafts of the feathers ; forehead and streak 

 above the eye yellowish white ; the ear-coverts grey and 

 brown. 



The young male birds much resemble the female above 

 described, but have no grey in the centre of the feathers on 

 the upper parts, these being dark brown bordered with rufous. 



