24 
ASTUK BADIUS. 
surface is bolder, and the brown bands have a more perceptible dark edging ; they are also variable in hue, and are 
continued more to the lower parts than in the other sex, some examples having the thigh-coverts barred like the 
flanks ; the outer tail-feathers, as demonstrated by Ceylonese examples at any rate, are seldom without very 
narrow bars on the inner webs. 
Obs. A very marked difference exists between fully-aged birds and those that have just assumed the barred phase; in 
the latter the upper surface is very brown, and the bands of the lower surface are far apart and conspicuously 
edged with brown, giving the whole an umber rather than a sienna appearance. In this stage Ceylonese examples 
of this Hawk resemble, on their under surface, the race characterized by Mr. Hume, in ‘ Stray Feathers ’ (vol. ii. 
p. 325), under the name of Micronisus poliopsis, and to which he contends the Pegu birds belong. The diagnosis of 
this species is, “ Very similar to M. badius, Grnel., but larger, the aduit males a paler and purer grey, wanting the 
nuchal rufescent collar and the central throat-stripe, and with the cheeks and ear-coverts unicolorous with the 
crown.” The young birds are also described as having no more than four bands on the central tail-feathers, 
instead of five or six as in M. badius, and “ in both sexes the barring of the lower surface seems on the whole broader 
and more strongly marked than in any specimens of true badius.” As regards the latter feature Mr. Sharpe 
remarks (Cat. Birds, i. p. 110) that it is “ banded with broader and brighter vinous bands than its near allv.” 
The absence of the throat-stripe and the few caudal bars are valuable characteristics in differentiating it from 
Ceylonese M. badius, but not so the vinous bands ; in this respect M. badius appears to vary to a considerable 
extent, particularly as regards birds not fully aged ; and this inclined Mr. Gurney to consider the Ceylonese 
example spoken of (l.c.) to belong to the poliopsis race. I have, however, shown him specimens in my collection 
exhibiting this peculiarity, and he now considers it to be of no specific value. 
Young. These attain the full dimensions in the first year. 
Iris, at first greenish yellow, changing to saffron-yellow with age, and passing then through various shades of orange 
to the red hue of old birds ; cere and orbitar skin greenish, changing to yellow; legs and feet greenish yellow, 
the feet changing first to the adult yellow, and then the posterior part of the tarsus ; bill dark brown, with the 
base only bluish. 
Head, upper surface, with the wing-coverts rich brown, pervaded with an ashy hue, and conspicuously edged with 
brownish rufous, which, on the scapulars and tertials, is fulvescent, and across the hind neck often pales into 
whitish ; the basal portion of the feathers is white, which shows more on the latter part than elsewhere ; forehead 
face, and above the eye buff -white, striated with brown, which coalesces on the ear-coverts with the rufous-brown 
of the sides of the head ; quills brown, crossed by narrow dark bars (faint towards the tips), which show as 
blackish brown on the buff under-wing. Tail brownish grey, crossed on both webs of all but the lateral feathers 
with brown bars ; these are usually five in number on the central feathers in the male, and six in the female’ the 
basal bar lying beneath the coverts ; on the remaining feathers the number varies, the penultimate in some examples 
having no more than the central feather, while others have six or seven accordin'' to sex 
Throat, fore neck, and under surface buff-white, the first-named part with a brown centre-stripe, and the rest of the 
feathers down to the belly with large umber-brown “drops ” and dark shafts ; these vary much in individuals 
pale and narrow in some, dark and heavy in others, particularly on the chest ; on the thighs and lower parts they 
narrow almost into stripes ; under tail-coverts, in pale examples pure white, in dark, heavily-marked birds with 
narrow mesial stripes of brown. 
In the younger stages the drops have a constant tendency to turn into bars, these latter being most prevalent on the 
flanks ; many birds, I believe, have a tendency to the bar-like form of marking from the first, although this does 
not lead to any quicker or more gradual assumption of the sienna barring, peculiar to the adult plumage ; for this is 
put on by a moult at once throughout the whole under surface, which takes place in some birds while the upper 
surface is still in the immature dress, and is sometimes mingled with the chest-drops and bold dark bars of the 
flanks. At this first moult to the adult dress the cheeks are generally streaked with brown on a pale ground 
Distribution.— The Sliikra is distributed throughout the island, extending into and resident in most parts 
ot the Kandyan Province. On the Nuwara Elliya plateau I have not observed it ; but it is no doubt a visitant 
to that elevated region during the dry season. It is not uncommon on the Fort MacDonald patnas, and I have 
procured it on Namooni-Kuli Mountain, near Badulla, which has an elevation of more than 6000 feet ■ it is 
also met with m Dimbulla and the Knuckles district, so that it may be said generally to affect the mountain- 
zone. In the interior of the lowlands it is resident ; and during the north-east monsoon it is common in the 
cu tivate lstncts round the sea-coast, taking up its abode in the vicinity of human habitations. It is fond of 
establishing i se on cliffs, such as those at Trincomalie, and is frequently seen about the ramparts at Galle and 
