Gen. Hierax, Vigors.
Char.—Bill short, upper mandible with a sharp tooth, and a notch on each side, often described as a double tooth; wings short, 2nd and 3rd quills equal and longest, slightly notched near the tip; tail rather short, even; tarsus rather short, stout, with large transverse scuta in front; toes scutellated; middle toe not much elongated; anterior claws not very unequal, strong; hind claw large.
These beautiful little falcons, the pigmies of the order, are very little bigger than a sparrow: their sternum is notched posteriorly, and the cranium very large and vaulted. Kaup makes them the pre-eminent or parrot tribe among the Falcons. They are peculiar to India and Malayana.
20. Hierax Eutolmos, Hodgs.
Gray's Zool. Misc. 1844—H. bengalensis, apud Blyth J. A. S. B. XII. 180, and Bon.—Horse., Cat. 15—Blyth, Cat., 78—Tangpum Lepcha—Tingpum mepa, Bhot.
White-naped Pigmy Falcon.
Upper parts black, glossed with green; wings and tail with the inner webs of the feathers with white spots; forehead, broad superciliary line extending to the nape, and sides of neck and breast, white; chin, throat, abdomen, thigh coverts, vent, and under tail coverts, ferruginous. In some the ferruginous is more marked than in others, especially on the chin and throat.
Length 6 to 6½ inches; wing 4 to 4½; tail 2½; tarsus ¾; mid toe and claw nearly ⅞.
This beautiful little Falcon is found in Nepal, Sikhim, Assam, and Arracan. Their habits are little known. They are said by the natives of the hills to seize small birds, and also insects. The stomach of the only one I procured at Darjeeling was empty. I have never heard that they are trained for hawking, and the bird alluded to by Captain Mundy, considered by Mr. Blyth, (J. A S., XL, 789,) to be one of these tiny Falcons, I have very little doubt
