AVES. 105 



the ravines of Moab. It is highly esteemed by the Arab falconers, who 

 train the young birds for the chase of the Hare and Bustard. 



The range of the Lanner is somewhat restricted. Its true home is 

 North Africa and Syria, but it occurs in Spain and Turkey. South of 

 the Sahara and east of Palestine it is replaced by other species. 



I have retained the name lanarius for this bird for convenience, 

 thoughyt'/i^(?^« has strictly the precedence. 



217. Falco saccr. Gmel. Syst. Nat. i., p. 273. The Saker Falcon. 

 Arab. ^=»il yi*-o, Sakkr el hoi: 



The Saker Falcon appears to be confined in Palestine to the wild 

 uplands of forests east of Jordan, where it replaces the Lanner. It is the 

 most highly prized of all the species by the Arabs, and the chief tribe of 

 the district, the Beni Sakk'r, take their name from it, and adopt it as their 

 badge. 



The Saker is only a straggler to Southern and Central Europe. Its 

 home is east and south ; from North Africa it ranges through Western 

 Asia, Persia, Mongolia, to India and China. In North-western China it 

 replaces the Peregrine. 



218. Falco subbuteo. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 127. The Hobby. 



The Hobby is a summer visitant to Palestine, returning rather late 

 in spring, and resorting only to the few wooded districts and the olive 

 groves. 



The range of the Hobby extends over the whole of Europe, Africa, 

 and Asia, though rare in Northern Europe and Eastern Asia. 



219. Falco eleonoi'cr. Gene. Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 105. Eleonora 

 Falcon. 



This fine large Hobby Is another scarce summer visitant. I have 

 only noticed it myself in the plain of the Buka'a (Coele Syria). 



It is a gregarious rock-frequenting bird, in contrast with all the habits 

 of the Common Hobby. 



Its centre seems to be the islands of the Greek Archipelago, and it 

 seldom has been found beyond the Mediterranean coast, with the singular 

 exception of Madagascar, which it inhabits. 



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