186 Mr. 0. Salvin's Five Months' Birds' -nesting 



the true F. lanarius of Dr. Schlegel, an adult male of which the 

 figure (PI. Col. 479) very much resembles. 



It is probable that the geographical range of this beautiful 

 miniature Peregrine is extremely limited ; the Atlas, however, 

 appears to be its focus. In the jNIuseum at Norwich is an im- 

 mature specimen, said to come from Western Africa, where, 

 however, if it occurs, it is most likely only as a straggler. Mr. 

 J. H. Gurney has had three living birds of this species, all nest- 

 lings brought from Algeria, — two by Mr. Tristram, in 1856, 

 and one by Mr. Simpson and myself, in 1857. One of them 

 made its escape last autumn ; but the other two are still at 

 Catton, and seem to be in good health. They all three, as is 

 usual with the true Falcons, moulted into the adult plumage 

 when about fifteen months old. Of European localities for this 

 bird, it would seem, from the concluding sentence in the extract 

 above given from the ' Gentleman^s Recreation,' that it has been 

 taken in Crete, as well as in the Asiatic islands of Cyprus and 

 Rhodes*. It is very possible that it may not be uncommon in 

 Spain, especially the interior of the country ; and it is pretty 

 sure to occur accidentally at Gibraltar, where a good look-out 

 should be kept for it. Its small stature, powerful feet and claws, 

 and its ruddy under-plumage, will prevent its being taken for 

 the common Peregrine by any one to whom these peculiarities 

 are known. 



The rediscovery, if it may be so called, of this bird, is another 

 most interesting proof of the extreme accuracy of the old writers 

 on Falconry ; of which the determination of the true Lanner [F. 

 lanarius, Schl.), and the separation from it and other allied species 

 of the Saker (F. sacer, Schl.), are notable instances. In these 

 two latter cases the jiidgment of Dr. Schlegel is not likely to be 



* The late Mr. W. B. Barker, in his work on Cihcia, says that the Pere- 

 grine of Mount Taurus is known as the " Barbar)' Falcon " (" Lares and 

 Penates," p. 297). Now if, as the old wTiter above quoted sa)'s, it is really 

 found in Rhodes and Cyprus, this may be the case; but, at the same time, 

 it is perhaps more probable that the bird mentioned by Mr. Barker is the 

 true Lanner (F. lanarius, Schl.), of the existence of which he does not 

 seem to have been aware, since the species he calls the Lanner is the 

 Saker (F. sacer, Gm.), as was proved by a living bird he presented to the 

 Zoological Society. 



