PALCO ICHTHY^TUS, 
berances. The claws are of uncommon size, strongly curved, regularly cylindrical, 
and possess in a great degree the peculiarity belonging to the Balbusards of northern 
climates. From the examination which I have been enabled to make of various 
specimens, it appears that in Falco Ichthyaetus they are truly cylindrical, wliile in 
Falco Halizetus they are laterally compressed. They are admirably calculated for 
a rapid seizure, and a firm hold. The claw of the middle toe has a small groove 
internally. Regarding their relative size, it is to be noted, that of the anterior toes, 
the claw of the interior is largest, and they successively decrease to the exterior. 
The claw of the hind toe is scarcely perceptibly larger than that of the interior toe 
before. 
The general colour of the Falco Ichthyaetus above is brown, but it has different 
shades and degrees of intensity. The posterior portion of the abdomen, the vent, 
the thighs, and the tail, to within two inches of the extremity, are white. The 
head is brown, with a tint of plumbeous gray, which is darker above, and paler at 
the sides and underneath. The plumes of the upper part of the head are long, 
acute, with the vanes on each side irregular, and in some individuals appearing 
as if corroded. A space, nearly naked, extends from the anterior angle of the eye 
to the base of the bill. Long decumbent vibrissse arc scattered in small numbers 
on this naked space, and on the forehead, the cheeks, the base of the bill near the 
gape, and the throat. The cere is blue, and rather obscure. The irides have a 
bright sulphur yellow colour. On the neck, breast, and the anterior part of the 
back and abdomen, the brown inclines to ferruginous. On the wings the colour is 
more intense, and in certain positions regarding the light, has a blueish cast The 
wings underneath are hoary. The brown is saturated and pure on the back, and 
on the extremity of the tail and of the quill-feathers ; the shafts of the latter are 
nearly black. The posterior white portion of the abdomen is separated from the 
anterior parts by a determinate boundary line, extending almost regularly across the 
abdomen. The feet are light blue, with a yellowish lustre. The scales are remark- 
ably prominent and defined. The colour of the claws, which, from their cylindrical 
form and strong curvature, give a marked character to this bird, is deep blackish 
blue, and shining. The bill has a leaden hue. The female uniformly exceeds the 
male in size. 
The Falco Ichthyaetus is found in Java, always near Lakes, or on the banks 
of large rivers. It is by no means generally distributed. I met with it in two 
situations only : one of these was on the banks of the largest river of the eastern 
parts of the Island, the River of Kediri. Here it was very numerous, and I 
obtained most of the specimens which I afterwards brought to England. I fre- 
