or string cornice

Band course:
a projecting, horizontal element separating parts of a wall surface, especially in masonry construction
http://www.mhl.org/historicpreservation/glossary.htm
a band of brick or stone, projecting slightly for visual emphasis, usually dividing upper and lower storeys
http://www.housepride.ca/glossary.jsp

Stringcourse:
or band course is a thin projecting course of brickwork or stone that runs horizontally around a building, typically to emphasize the junction between floors, or just below the eaves;
a course is a continuous horizontal layer of similarly-sized building material one unit high, usually in a wall. The term is almost always used in conjunction with unit masonry such as brick, cut stone, or concrete masonry units ("concrete block").
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringcourse#String_course
Decorative horizontal bands on a building.
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072965258/student_vie...

"band course" image examples:
http://www.thorvertonstone.co.uk/band_course.php
http://watlingreclamation.co.uk/band-course/
http://www.mexboroconcrete.com/?page_id=434

"stringcourse" image examples:
http://www.grosvenorstone.co.uk/Plinth & String course homep...
http://www.redwoodstone.co.uk/gothic_folly/folly_components/...
http://www.stormking.co.uk/grp-klipcill-klipcill-reproductio...