FALCO. 115 
Juv. Nigricanti-brunneus, nucha et colli lateribus albo fulvoque maculatim notatis; notei plumis anguste 
rufescenti-brunneo marginatis, supracaudalibus rufo maculatis ; cauda grisescenti-brunnea, maculis rufis 
fasciatim 8-notatis; facie laterali genisque nigris, his ad basin et gutture toto cum collo laterali albidis 
rufo tinctis, hoc anguste nigro lineato ; corpore reliquo subtus rufescenti-cervino, plumis medialiter late 
brunneo striatis, corporis lateribus tibiisque fulvido vel rufescenti-fulvo fasciatim notatis. (Descr. exempl- 
ex Duenas. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norta America generally.—Mexico (Mus. Brit.''), Mazatlan ®, Venado Island 
(Grayson *), Tres Marias Is. (Grayson ° 1°, Nelson), Guanajuato (Dugés*), Hacienda 
Santa Cruz de la Valle near Guadalajara (Dr. A. Buller); Guatemata, Duefias 
(0. 8.2); Honpuras, Swan Island, Bay of Honduras (Zownsend *); Sanvapor, Acajutla 
(O. S.); Pawama, Santiago de Veraguas (Arcé*).—Soutu America generally, with 
the exception of the extreme south ; Europe and the greater part of Asta 1}, 
The Peregrine Falcon of North America is considered by many naturalists to be 
distinct from the common Peregrine of the Old World, and is separated as Falco 
anatum. We agree, however, with Dr. Sharpe that the differences are not of specific 
importance. . 
The Peregrine is doubtless chiefly a migrant in Central America, and specimens 
have been obtained in various localities. Grayson !° relates that he observed a pair in 
Venado Island, off the coast of Mazatlan, which he believed were breeding, as one of the 
birds entered a cavity in a cliff with food in its claws, apparently to feed its young, but 
as the eyrie was inaccessible he did not obtain specimens. The Venado bird was the 
dark western form of Peregrine inhabiting the Pacific coast of North America, and 
known to naturalists as /'. nigriceps or F. pealer. 
The Duck-Hawk, as this Falcon is generally called, breeds in the cliffs on the coasts 
and rivers and in holes of high trees. Bendire? says that nests have also been found in 
sandstone cliffs close to the ground. The eggs, of a rich dark rufous colour, vary from 
three to five in number. The food consists chiefly of Ducks, Pigeous, &c., which 
the bird invariably strikes in mid-air. 
2. Falco mexicanus. 
Falco mexicanus, Schl. Abh. Geb. Zool. iv. p. 15 (1841)' ; Mus. P.-B., Falcones, p. 18, note’; Ridgw. 
Man. N. Amer. Birds, ed. 2, p. 247°; Bendire, Life Hist. N. Amer, Birds, 1. p. 288, t. 10. 
figs. 2, 3‘; Fisher, Bull. U.S. Dep. Agric. no. 3, p. 104° 5 A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. 
Birds, p. 137°. 
Hierofalco mexicanus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 420°. 
Falco poiyagrus, Cassin, Birds Cal. & Texas, p. 88°. 
Falco lanarius, var. polyagrus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, iii. p. 123°. 
Supra brunneus rufo marmoratus, notei plumis schistaceo-brunneis rufo fasciatis et terminatis; interscapulio 
maculatim rufo notato, dorso postico, uropygio et supracaudalibus distincte transfasciatis ; tectricibus 
alarum et secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus; remigibus brunneis, schistaceo extus lavatis, intus 
albido fasciatim notatis, secundariis rufo extus maculatis, intus fasciatis ; rectricibus brunneis, griseo 
adumbratis, albo terminatis, duabus mediis concoloribus, reliquis autem rufo extus maculatis, intus 
fasciatis ; pileo rufescente, plumis medialiter nigris, quasi striatis ; frontis basi, loris et supercilio angusto 
15* | 
