ACCIPITRES. 231 



421, the old female; 450, the old male;(l) Nauman, pi. 24 

 and 25, and Wils. Am. IX, pi. Ixxvi. 



Those called Faucons pclerins, Enl. 469, and Wils. Amer. IX, 

 pl. 76 F. stellaris, F. peregrinus^ Gm., appear to be young ones 

 2'ather blacker than the rest. 



It is this celebrated species which has given its name to that 

 kind of hunting in which birds of prey are used. It inhabits 

 the whole north of the earth, and builds in the most elevated and 

 inaccessible cliffs. Such is the velocity of its flight, that there 

 is scarcely a spot on the globe it does not visit. The Falcon 

 stoops vertically on its prey, as though it fell from the clouds, 

 and consequently can only capture birds while on the wing, 

 otherwise it would dash itself against the ground. Sec. with fatal 

 violence. The male is used for taking Pies and other small 

 birds; the female against Pheasants, and even Hares. 



F. lanarius, L.; F. sacer, Naum. pl. 23. (The Lanner.) A 

 somewhat larger species, which appears to come from the East 

 rather than the North. Its plumage is nearly the same as that of 

 the young falcon, except that its moustache is narrower, and 

 less marked, and that its throat is mottled ; it approaches the 

 Gerfalcon in the tail, which is longer than the wings : it is 

 principally taken in Hungary. 

 Europe produces also six smaller species, three of which have the 

 form and qualities of the true falcon on a reduced scale. 



F. subbuteOf L.j Enl. 432; Naum. 26. (The Hobby.) Brown 

 above ; whitish, spotted longitudinally with brown beneath ; 

 thighs and lower part of the abdomen red ; a brown streak on 

 the cheek. 



F. aesalon, L. ; Enl. 468; Naum. 27. (The Merlin.) Brown 

 above; whitish beneath; longitudinally spotted with brown, even 

 on the thighs ; the smallest of the European birds of prey. F. 

 lithofalco, L. ; Enl. 447; ash coloured above; reddish white spot- 

 ted longitudinally with pale brown underneath, is merely an 

 old male of the same species. Builds among the rocks. 

 The toes of the three remaining species are shorter, and their JH^ 

 tubercles less salient. Their flight is not so rapid, and they pursue '"^"^ 

 Mice, Insects, and seize Birds upon the perch. The most common is, 



F. tinnuncidus, L.; Enl. 401 and 471 ; Naum. 30. (The Kes- 

 trel.) Red ; spotted with black above ; white longitudinally, 

 spotted with pale brown beneath ; the head and tail of the male 



(1) Frisch only gives a young falcon, pl. Ixxxiii, Edw.; the old female, pl. ili ; 

 the young, pl. iv. 



