The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

§. XI. * The red Indian Falcons of Aldrovandus.

THe first of these (which we suppose to be the Female) hath a greater head than * 1.1 the latter, a broad and almost flat Crown, without any rising in the hinder part of the head, as is seen in some. The head is of an ash-colour tending to brown, as is also the Neck, the whole Back, and the outside of the Wings. The Beak very thick; next the Head both above and below all yellow; having a moderate ash-co∣loured * 1.2 hook; of which colour is also all that fore-part which is bare, beyond the Sear or investing Membrane. The Pupil of the Eye is of a deep black; the Iris brown, or of a dark Chesnut-colour. The edges of the Eye-lids round about yel∣low. * 1.3 From the exteriour and lesser corner of the Eyes on both sides is drawn a long stroak of the same colour with the Breast. The whole Breast, and also the upper part * 1.4 of the inside of the Wings, the Belly moreover and the Rump, the Hips and Thighs are all fulvous or red, of a pale Vermilion colour. But the Chin in this red colour * 1.5 is marked with a long cinereous spot, produced downwards. The Breast also be∣fore is besprinkled with small scattering specks of the same colour. The sides, that are covered with the middle part of the Wings closed, are tinctured with the same dark cinereous colour. The Wings are very long, their tips reaching much further * 1.6 than the middle of the Tail; crossing one another about the lower end of the Back. The Train is long, each feather whereof is varied with alternate spaces of black * 1.7 (which are the narrower, of a Semicircular figure) and of ash-colour, which are the broader. The Legs and Feet are yellow, pretty thick and strong: The Talons * 1.8 black and very sharp.

The other (which we believe to be the Male) is less by near a third part; for va∣riety * 1.9 of colours almost the same with the former; and those in the same parts, save that (as we hinted also before) the red colour in this is deeper and more evident: Likewise the same coloured Membrane as in the former [I suppose he means that about the Eyes.] Those parts also which in the former are coloured with a dark cinere∣ous, in this are altogether black; viz. the upper side of the Wings, the Head, Back, and Tail. Yet may we take notice of some marks peculiar to this, wherein it differs * 1.10 from the other. For the Bill in this is wholly blue, excepting a small yellow mem∣brane covering the Nosthrils, having uneven borders, as it were serrate. The Chin or beginning of the Throat in this is of a little paler red, something inclining to cine∣reous, but not marked with any spot as in the former. The interiour flag-feathers of the Wings are white, only crossed at due intervals with many transverse brown marks: * 1.11 The rest of the upper side of the Wings is of a very deep fulvous colour, like red Oker. The upper side of the Tail is also adorned with a double variety of transverse * 1.12 spots, to wit, white and ash-coloured inclining to blue, alternately disposed. The Feet and Legs are of a more dilute, yellow, or Wax colour. * 1.13

Both came out of the East-Indies.

What is delivered by Albertus and others concerning the blue-footed Falcon and ba∣stard Falcon I omit, as being only general and uncertain; referring the curious, and those that desire to know such things, to the Authors themselves, or to Aldrovandus, for satisfaction.

We have a sort of bastard Hawk common enough among us, called the Boccarel, and its Tarcel the Boccaret.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Its Head,
• * 1.2

  Beak,
• * 1.3

  Eyes.
• * 1.4

  Breast.
• * 1.5

  Chin.
• * 1.6

  Wings:
• * 1.7

  Train.
• * 1.8

  The Feet, and Talons,
• * 1.9

  The other red Falcon de∣scribed. Its Colour.
• * 1.10

  Its proper marks. Beak. Chin.
• * 1.11

  Wings.
• * 1.12

  Train.
• * 1.13

  Feet.