PLATE XLV. 



This very striking species of theFalco tribe originally constituted 

 part of the ornithological collection of Mr. Reddel, and was first re- 

 cognized as a nondescript bird by Professor Temminck, of Amster- 

 dam, when in London in the summer of the year 1819; at the same 

 time that he pronounced it an undescribed species, he assigned it the 

 trivial name of thoracicus, and we have since understood it is so de- 

 signated in his MSS. This bird, with many other new species from 

 that extensive museum, is at the present period in our own possession ; 

 ■we have compared it with those of the Falco tribe already noticed 

 by writers, and have no reason to distrust the accuracy of Mr. Tem- 

 minck*s conclusions. The bird appears to be distinct, and as the 

 trivial name of thoracicus, which Mr. Temminck has given to it, is 

 sufficiently expressive of its character, there cannot be the least objec- 

 tion to retain it : it should be added, that we are totally unaware of 

 any character this author may intend assigning to this species, that 

 by which we have distinguished it is the result of our own 

 observation. 



The nearest approximation to this new species is the Orange- 

 breasted Hobby of Latham's Synopsis, Falco aurantius of his Index 

 OrnithologicuSj a bird described by that writer from specimens in the 

 British Museum that exists no longer, and in the Leverian Museum 

 long since dispersed ; but the accuracy of his description leave little 

 doubt of the bird before us being distinct. There is a similarity, at 

 the same time that upon due comparison the difference will be found 

 material. The orange-breasted Hobby is fifteen inches long, our 

 Falco thoracicus not more than nine inches ; the wings in the former 

 short, and reaching only to the middle of the tail, while in our bird 

 the wings extend nearly an inch beyond the end of the tail : the back 

 in our bird is uniformly dark and immaculate, in Falco aurantius it 



