FalcO'RufipedoideSj Dhuti-Dhuter of India. 28S 



to the usual opinion, the snow of the Himalayas lies longer and deeper 

 on the northern, than it does on the southern exposure. 

 Mussooree, 29th March, 1843. 



Letter from a Correspondent on the Falco-Rufipedoides, Dhuti- 

 Dhuter of India. 



One of your correspondents has requested me to state what are 

 the Indian Falcons, called Dhooti and Karjoona, and whether either 

 of them is the Falco Subbuteo of Europe. In compliance with his 

 request, I beg to state through your Journal, pro bono publico, that 

 neither of these Indian names is applicable to Subbuteo, which 

 species seems to be unknown in the plains, and is rare in the hills. 

 In several years I have procured only two specimens, a fine female 



13 



measured 12 inches and half in length : bill to the gape tail 5f, 

 closed wing lOf. Tarse to sole 1 Central toe and nail less If. 

 Hind j|. Its structure, typical of Falco, and its colours agree with 

 those of the European Subbuteo. Wings equal to tail, with the 

 2nd quill rather longer than the 1st, which latter alone is notched, 

 and sharply so, about l\ inch from its tip : tail rounded : tarse bi- 

 scutellate to the front ; reticulate to sides and rear : toes long, unequal, 

 slender, typically falconine, with the acropodia almost wholly scutellate. 

 Talons medial, unequal, acute ; the inner and hind largest. This 

 bird is blackish, slaty above and rufescent-luteous below : Ears and 

 moustache blackish. Throat and neck in front immaculate : breast 

 and flanks broadly streaked down middle of plumes with blackish ; 

 thighs more narrowly : alars and caudals internally with frequent pale 

 bars : bill plumbeous, cere and legs greenish-yellow, claws black. 



The Karjoona of India is Falco-Rufipes, distinguished structurally 

 by its devious and small toes and talons, so like to Tinnunculoides. 

 Its wings are equal to its tail, which is full sized and rounded. It is 

 slaty black above, slaty grey below, the belly and vent deep ochreous 

 red, cere and legs orange red : bill yellow horn : talons pale and equal 

 in size. It is from 11 to 12 inches long, wing 8f to the female 

 very much resembles Subbuteo in colour, but may be known at once 

 by lesser size, and by its smaller digits and pale equal talons. 



