FALCOXID.E — FALCON IN Ji: ; FALCONS. 



669 



(Subgenus Rhyxchodon: Peregrines.) 



F. (R.) peregrinus an'atum. (U\t. j^eregrinus, wandering ; atiatum, genitive plural of anas, 

 a duck. Fig. 4G0.) Ameuican Peregrine Falcon. DuckHa\yk. Great-footed Hawk. 

 A medium-sized Falcon, about as large as the foregoing, but kuinvu at a glance from any bird 

 of N. Am. by slaty-plumbeous or dark bluish-ash of upper parts, black "moustache," and 

 other marks, taken with its particular size and shape. Wings stiff, long, thin, pointed by 'Zd 

 quill, supported nearly to its tip by 1st and 8.1; 1st alone abrui)tly emarginate on inner web, 

 about 2 inches from tip ; none cut on outer webs. Tomium of upper mandible strongly toothed, 

 of under mandible deeply notched. Tarsus feathered but a little way down in front, otherwise 



Fig. 400. - Peregrine Falcon, or Duck Hawk, i nat. size. (From Urehm.) 



entirely reticulate; toes very long, giving great grasp to tlie talons. Adult S 9 : Above, rich 

 dark bluisli-ash or slate-coh.r, — very variable, sometimes quite slaty-blackish, again much 

 lighter bhiish-slate; the tint pretty uniform, wliatevcr it may be, over all upper parts, but all 

 tlie featliers with somewhat paler e.iges, ami the larger ones for the m..st part ..bscurely barred 

 with liglit.'r an.l darker hues. Under parts at large varying from nrarly i-.uv white to a peculiar 

 muddy^.utf c.dor of ditt-.'rent de-rers ..f intensity ; thn.at and breast usually frc fro.n markings 

 (or only with a few sharp sliaft-penciUings) ; this white ..r light coh.r mounting .m auricnlars, 

 so that it partly isolates a blackish moustache from blackish of si.h' of head; under parts, ex- 

 cept as said, inclu.ling under wing- and tail-ci.verts. closely and n^irularly barred, ..r l.-ss closely 

 and more irregularly spotted, with bla.-kisli ; bars best pronounced on Hanks, tibi:e, and cnssum, 



