F A I L C O W M J S m J O T U S .
jBngravxLby J.Skury, far ST Thomsons Travels i/o S-wedai,Tublished'*Majj 2,1813
Chap. III.] d e s c r i p t i o n o p t h e p a l c o u m b r i n c s .
Charadrius pluvialis. Golden Plover.
Recurvirostra avosetta. Scooping Avocet. -
Hematopus ostrolegus. Pyed Oystercatcher.
Fulica atra. Bald Coot.
chloropus.
Ralluscrex. Crake.*
I shall terminate this catalogue with a description of the falco um-
brinus, a species of eagle not found in Great Britain,. and very rare in
Sweden. • ,
It is about the size o f the falco palumbarius or goshawk, from ttie
tip of the beak to the end of the tail is about 22 inches. The distance
between the extremities of the wings when stretched is about 3 1 feet.
The beak is curved, and of a leaden colour, moistened with wax. The
upper maxilla furnished with an obtuse tooth. Iris clay-coloured. A
white line above the eyes. The temples and nucha spotted with white.
The neck, the back o f the wings, the tectrices and uropygium ash-
grey. The margins of the feathers yellow. The gullet white, as
likewise the inferior part of the neck, but variegated with ferruginous
stripes.
Body below white, w i t h numerous dark coloured longitudinal spots.
The spots on the sides inclining to heart-shaped. The wings below
white, longitudinally marked with dark spots. The end feathers ash-
coloured. The interior margins surrounded with a white .border. Tail
long, equal, marked above with eight or nine yellow transverse lines:
below ash-coloured with a white border. Feet leaden-coloured; thighs
covered with feathers; legs covered with a silky down; talons ash-
coloured above.
It is more nearly allied to the fa lc o palumbarius and gentilis than to
any other birds; yet it is distinct from them, as is evident from the description,
nor can it be considered as a younger variety o f any other
species. It differs from the former in colour, and in the lines, and ob-
* This list does not contain nearly all the animals in Sweden. The wolf, for example,
is omitted. I saw at Stockholm all the Swedish birds in the Museum of the Academy.
They amounted to nearly 300 species.
I 2