FALCO SEMITORQTJATUS
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FALCO SEMITORQUATUS.—S m it h .
A v e s .— P l a t e I. (M a l e .)
F. parte superiori capitis, dorso, humerisque cineraceis; capitis lateribus, fascia cervicali, tectricibus
superioribus caucUe, partibusque inferioribus albis; remigibus rectricibusque brunneo-nigris maculis
albis in seriebus transversis variegatis; rostro ad basin, cer&, pedibusque flavis; rostri apice, ungui-
busque nigris; oculis flavis.
Longitudo 7 unc.
Falco Semitoeq,uatus, Rep. of Exped. page 44. June 1836.
CoLODE.^-The upper part of the head, the back, the secondary quill coverts
and a few of the innermost tertiary quill feathers cinereous or ashy blue ; the
sides of the head a broad transverse band on the back of the neck, the upper
tail coverts, and all the under parts pure white. Primary quill coverts, quill
feathers and tail dull brown or brownish black, freely variegated with white
spots. On the quill feathers, the spots on the outer vanes consist of somewhat
circular or semicircular blotches,, on the inner vanes of more or less
lengthened transverse bars, the latter more numerous than the former, which
are generally four on each web, except in the case of the first primary, which
is often spotless. On the tail the forms of the white spots are somewhat
similar to what they are upon the wing feathers, and the number upon
each vane is generally equal, commonly five, so that when the feathers are
spread, it appears crossed by that number of interrupted white bars; both
the quill and tail feathers tipt with white. Gere, basal half of bill, legs and
toes yellow, distal half of bill livid blue, with the extreme tip nearly black ;
claws black ; eyes yellow.
F okm, &c.—Bill rather compressed, and the point of the upper mandible
much hooked. Tarsi and toes moderately strong for the size of the bird, the
former covered’in front by entire or divided plates, behind and on the sides by
scales. Claws much curved; wings when closed reach nearly over the first two