149 
during a Voyage from Ceylon to England. 
On the 24th Oct. a Pipit (species doubtful) flew on board, 
when we were about twenty miles south-east of the island of 
Socotra. At the same time and place several small Finches 
came on board; but we could not determine their species. 
On the 25th Oct. a Quail ( Coturnix communis , Bonn.) made 
its appearance, and remained with us for several days, after¬ 
wards taking its departure for the south. 
The 26th October was the richest day of feathered visitors 
we had, when the following arrived, viz.—a Grey Flycatcher 
( Muscicapa); about a dozen Swallows ( Hirundo ); a small 
Horned Owl ( Ephialtes ) with yellow iris and a row of distinct 
dark spots or markings on the wing-coverts, otherwise similar 
to E. bakkamcena of Ceylon (it allowed us to approach 
quite close to it, but it ultimately flew off to the south); two 
species of Water-Wagtail; three birds which appeared through 
a glass to be Rollers or allied birds; an Artamus; a bird the 
size of a small Pigeon, with rather long tail and long straight 
bill, which alighted on the the top of the mainmast, but could 
not be identified. 
On the morning of the 27th, when between Socotra and 
the Arabian coast, a Falcon ( Falco peregrinator ?) flew on 
board, and was secured at night. If we have not mistaken 
our bird, this is the noble “ Shaheen 33 Falcon, so much prized 
by Indian rajahs for falconry. Being a rare and most inter¬ 
esting bird, we took every care of it, and carried it to England 
safely, and presented it to the Zoological Society of London. 
It is now in the Society's Gardens, and appears in the list 
of additions to the Menagerie under this name (see P. Z. S. 
1876, p. 839). It is smaller, more compact, and even more 
courageous than the true Peregrine. It is a curious circum¬ 
stance that the first bird of this species described was procured 
by Sundevall at sea between Sumatra and Ceylon (see Jer- 
don's f Birds of India/ p. 26). 
On the 28th Oct. a Linnet (species doubtful) flew on board, 
as we passed up the Gulf of Aden. Great numbers of Sea¬ 
birds were here seen around the ship and along the Arabian 
shore. We now entered the Red Sea, when few of the fea- 
SER. iv.— VOL. i. 
M 
