■142 NORTH AMEi;iCAX BIRDS. 



is boldly blotched with markings of a bright chestuut-browu, varying greatly 



in its shadings. 



Subgenus ^ S A L O N , Kaup. 



^salmi, Kaim', 1829. (Tj-pe, Falco (esalon, Gmelix, = F. lUlwfalco, Gm.) 

 Hypotrioixhis, AucT. iiec BoiE, 1826, the tyi>e of which is Falco subbxUeo, LlSX. 

 Vendrofalco, Guay, 1840. (Type, F. (esalon, G.MEL. ) 



Tliis subgenus contains, apparently, but the single species F. Uthofo.lco, 

 which is found nearly throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and in different 

 climatic regions is modified into geographical races. Of the.se, Xorth Amer- 

 ica possesses three, and Europe one ; they may be distinguished as fol- 

 lows : — 



Species and Races. 



F. lithofalco. Second and third quills lonsjest; first usually shorter than, 

 occasionally cqiial to, or rarely longer than, the fourth. Adult female, and young 

 of both sexes. Above brownish, varying from pale earth-brown, or umber, to 

 nearly black, plain, or with obscure transverse spotting of lighter ; tail with five 

 to eight lighter bands, which, however, are sometimes obsolete, except the ter- 

 minal one. Beneath ochraceous-white, longitudinally striped with brown or 

 dusky over the whole surface. Adult jnale (except in var. suckleyi and richnrd- 

 sonif). Above plumbeous-blue, with darker shaft-streaks; tail with more or 

 less distinct bands of black, and paler tip. Beneath much as in the female and 

 young, but stripes usually narrower and more reddish. Wing, 7.20 - 9.00 ; tail, 

 4.90-6.30; culmen, .45 -.GO; tarsus, 1.30-1.60; middle toe, 1.1.5-1.51. 



a. Adult male plumbeous-blue above; sexes very unlike in adult dress. 

 Female and young without transverse spotting on upper parts. 



Adult male. Tail deep plumbeous, tipped with ash, with six transveree 

 series of dusky spots (which do not to .ch the shaft nor edge of the 

 feathere) anterior to the subterminal zone, the black of which extends 

 forward along the edge of the feather. Inner web of the longest 

 primary with ten transverse spots of white. Streaks on the cheeks 

 enlarged and blended, forming a conspicuous " mustache." Pectoral 

 markings linear black. The ochraceous wash deepest across the nape 

 and breast, and along the sides, and very pale on the tibiifi. Adult 

 female. Above brownish-plumbeous, the feathers becoming paler 

 toward their maigins, and with conspicuous black shaft-streaks. Tail 

 with eight (three concealed) narrow bands of pale fulvous-ashj' ; longest 

 primary with ten light spots on inner web. Outer webs of primaries 

 with a few spots of ochraceous. Young. Similar to the 9 adult, but 

 with a more rusty cast to the plumage, and with more or less distinct 

 transverse spots of paler on the upper parts. Wing, 7.G0-9.00; tail, 

 5.10-6.30 ; culmen, .45-.55 ; tarsus, 1.35-1.47 ; middle toe. 1.15-1.35. 

 Ilab. Europe var. lithofalco.' 



1 Falco (.-Esalon) lUlwfalco, var. lithufalco (Gmelix). Accipiter lilhofako, Br.iss. Oni. I, 1760, 

 349. Falco lithofalco, Gmel. S. N. 1789, 278. ^snlmi lithnfalco, Kavp. Ueb. Talk. Mus. 

 Senek. 258. Falco rcguhis, Gmel. S. N. 1798, 2S.i. Accipiter (Ksrilon, Biiiss. Orn. I, 1760, 382. 

 Falco a^ulon, G.melix, S. N. 1789, 284. — Yarkem., Hist. Brit. B., cd. 1S71, 74. Hijpo- 

 Iriorchis cesalon, Guay, Gen. 1844, .Sp. 10. Falco inlcrtnixtus, D.KVn. Tr. Oni. II, 1800, 141. 



