282 FALCO. FALCON. 



large, round, its muscular coat very thin, composed of a single 

 series of fasciculi, its tendons rather large and round. Intestine 

 of moderate length and width ; cloaca elliptical or globular, very 

 large ; cceca very small. These organs are minutely described 

 in Vol. I, p. 53, and illustrated by Plate IV, representing 

 those of Falco peregrinus. 



Nostrils sub-basal, lateral, round, with a central papilla or 

 knob, connected with the upper edge by a thin plate. Eyes 

 large, with the eyelids generally bare, but margined with 

 bristly feathers like eye-lashes ; the superciliary ridge promi- 

 nent and bare. Aperture of ear round, and rather large. Legs 

 of moderate length, stout ; tibia rather long and very muscu- 

 lar ; tarsus short, rounded, reticulated or covered with scales, 

 of which the anterior are larger and subhexagonal. Toes 

 strong, scutellate above, padded and papillate beneath •, the 

 first short, the third much longer than the fourth, which ex- 

 ceeds the second, and is connected by a basal membrane. 

 Claws well curved, long, tapering to a fine point, a little com- 

 pressed, rounded above and on the sides, flat beneath, with two 

 sharp edges ; those of the first and second toes largest. 



Plumage generally compact, on the abdomen loose. Cere 

 bare ; space between the bill and eye covered with radiating 

 bristle-tipped plumelets. Feathers of the head short and nar- 

 row, of the neck rather long, of the back and breast ovate or 

 oblong, of the outer part of the tibia elongated. Wings very 

 long and pointed ; the second longest, the first little shorter ; 

 one or two of the primaries having the inner web abruptly cut 

 out at the end ; secondaries thirteen or fifteen, of moderate 

 length, broad and rounded. Tail long, broad, rounded, of 

 twelve broad, rather pointed feathers. - 



The Falcons, which are more compact and muscular than 

 most of the other birds of this family, differ from them in their 

 mode of flight, it being performed by regular beats, with little 

 sailing or gyration, although they are capable of hovering or 

 remaining fixed in a spot by means of rapid movements of the 

 wings. They generally descend perpendicularly on their prey^ 

 which they capture in the air as well as on the ground. Their 

 food consists of small quadrupeds, birds of various kinds, rep- 



