180 
*280. Microhierax cerulescens cerulescens+ (Linn.) Lower slopes of 
S.N., 1, p. 88 (1758). [ex Edwards— Himalayas, 
“ Asia” = Bengal.) E. to Bhutan. 
Red-breasted Pigmy Falcon. 
Wing ¢ 100-108, 2 104-112 mm.; above 
greenish black; forehead, broad stripe 
above eye and down sides of neck, as well 
as collar on hind neck, white; primaries 
barred with white on inner webs ; tail with 
5 or 6 white bars on inner webs, basal one 
concealed and subterminal one either obso- 
lete or a tiny spot ; below entirely ferru- 
ginous, darkest on throat, vent and thighs 
and paler on chest ; sides of breast greenish 
black. Immature with stripes on sides of 
head rufous, instead of white, and throat, 
chest and breast white. 
280a. Microhierax cerulescens burmanicus Swann, Burma, 
Syn. List Accip., p. 116 (1920). [Thayet- N. Tenasserim, 
myo, Burma, type in Brit. Mus.] Siam, Cambodia 
White-breasted Pigmy Falcon. S. Annam. 
Wings shorter; ¢ 95, 2 104 mm. ; throat 
vent and thighs only ferruginous, chest 
and breast silky white, the latter slightly 
washed with ferruginous; tail with the 
subterminal white band in the form of two 
fair-sized spots of white, much larger than 
in last form. 
1 This is quite certainly the correct name for this species. Edwards’s plate 
accurately represents the Indian form except for the white neck band, a point 
which has given rise to much discussion, but there is no doubt this is an accidental 
variation, as in the Brit. Mus. coll. such a bird actually exists, without a trace of 
white collar, from Riocour’s collection. (B. M. Reg. No. 89, 5, 30, 48) marked 
‘* Malaisie,’’ and although not of the Indian race it proves the possibility of the 
collar being lost. The Indian form, it should be remarked has the under parts 
white (except vent and thighs) when immature, but nearly uniform ferruginous 
when adult. The eastern form on the other hand has, when adult, only a small 
throat patch and the vent and thighs ferruginous, with a wash of same on breast. 
In a large series a good deal of variation is found in the width and purity of the 
white collar, and Indian examples in particular often show a strong shading of 
black on it. 
