112 
FALCO SEVERUS. 
from the Himalayas to Travancore, and likewise in the Malayan peninsula, whence it extends through the 
whole Asiatic archipelago by way of Celebes and New Guinea to the Philippines. I have seen specimens 
of it from Java, Salwati, Borneo, and Makassar ; and it in all probability inhabits many of the smaller 
islands in the Malayan region. In India it is chiefly confined to the Himalayas ; but it is not very numerous 
even there, and does not extend to the north of this range. A few visit the plains in the cool season, and it is 
often killed in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. Colonel Radcliffe procured it near Futteghur in 1866 ; and 
Mr. Bourdillon in Travancore, where it is a winter visitor only. It does not appear to have been detected 
often, if at all, in Burmah, as I can find no record of its occurrence there in ‘ Stray Feathers ; ’ it has, however, 
been found further south in the peninsula, and it will very likely be met with some day in Tenasserim or 
Pegu. 
Habits . — This stout little Falcon frequents mountainous country, dwelling chiefly about heavy jungle and 
Distribution. — I assign my notice of this bird as belonging to the Ceylonese ornis to a footnote for the same reason 
as in the case of the Sparrow-Hawk, viz. that its occurrence on the island is not a matter of absolute certainty. Layard 
writes ( loc.cit .), “ I saw this pretty Hawk in the flat country near Pt. Pedro, but could not get a shot at it; I cannot, 
however, be mistaken in the bird, as I long watched it with my telescope.” He writes me from New Caledonia, “ You may 
safely include Uypotriorchis ehicquera and I therefore do so in the way I have adopted for the treatment of those species 
which have not been actually procured. There is no reason whatever against inferring that this little Falcon now and 
then visits the northern shores of Ceylon, as it is found in the extreme south of the peninsula. Jerdon says that it is 
spread throughout India from north to south, but is rare in the forest-districts, as it chiefly affects open country in the 
vicinity of cultivation. It does not appear to be procured so often in the south as in the northern parts of India and 
on the outskirts of the Himalayas — the province of Nepaul, to wit. Captain Hayes Lloyd found it common in the 
Kattiwar district, Western India ; and further north in the northern Guzerat region, Captain Butler writes, in ‘ Stray 
Feathers,’ “ it is not very common, but appears to be distributed pretty evenly throughout the plains.” In the eastern 
parts of the peninsula it is not so common. Mr. Ball says that it is of very rare occurrence in Chota Nagpur, and that 
he only once observed it in the Satpura hills.” 
Habits. — This pretty little Merlin is a most courageous bird, and appears to be a general favourite with sportsmen 
in India on account of its boldness, powers of flight, and interesting habits. It frequents compounds, groves of 
trees, the edges of isolated woods, or even single trees in open country, whence, Jerdon remarks, it “ sallies forth, 
sometimes circling aloft, but more generally, especially in the heat of the day, gliding with inconceivable rapidity along 
some hedge-row, bund of a tank, or across some fields, and pouncing suddenly on a Lark, Sparrow, or Wagtail.” It 
often hunts in pairs, and sometimes hovers for a few seconds like a Xestrel. It feeds on small birds almost entirely, but 
will occasionally kill the smaller mammals, Mr. Hume recording that he has found the remains of squirrels in their 
stomachs ; they have also been known to fly at Bats in the dusk of the evening. It is occasionally used by falconers, and 
flown at small game and also at the Roller aud at Pigeons. Jerdon writes, “ In pursuit of the Roller it follows most 
closely and most perseveringly ; but is often baulked by the extraordinary evolutions of this bird, who now darts off 
obliquely, then tumbles down perpendicularly, screaming all the time and endeavouring to gain the shelter of the nearest 
tree or grove.” Captain Butler gives a most interesting account ( loc . cil.) of the performances of one of these brave little 
birds, which I subjoin here : — “ Upon one occasion I remember shooting into a small flock of Cursorius gdllicus, wounding 
two and killing a third. One of the wounded birds, before falling, flew ‘pump-handling’ for some distance close to the 
ground, and the other one towered. One of these beautiful little Merlins at once appeared on the scene, and followed in 
pursuit of the towering bird to a height of 300 or 400 feet. As soon as the Courier became aware of his presence he closed 
his wings and dropped to the ground like a stone, followed of course by the Turumti, who stood erect by his side on my 
arrival, staring at him as if it was the first bird he had ever seen. On my approaching the spot the Courier again took 
wing followed by the Merlin; and thinking he might fly some distance, I shot him. The Merlin took no notice whatever 
of the report of the gun, but made a stoop at the falling bird and accompanied it to the ground. I then walked up to 
the spot and drove him away. 
“After picking up the Plover I turned round and, to my unutterable surprise, I saw the Falcon on the top of the 
other wounded bird. 1 ran up to them, and found a desperate struggle going on ; aud it was not until I nearly knocked 
the plucky little fellow over with a stone that I induced him to leave his intended meal.” 
The cry of this species is a shrill angry scream. 
