187. 



FALCO VESPERTLNUS 



THE ORANGE-LEGGED FALCON. 



The wings, when closed, about the same length as 

 the tail. Of the male the plumage uniform deep bluisli- 

 grey, excepting that of the abdomen and legs, and the 

 lower tail-coverts, which are bright yellowish-red, the 

 cere orange-red, the feet reddish flesh-coloured, tlic 

 length about twelve inches. Of the female, the upper 

 part of the head and the hind neck yellowish-red, the 

 back greyish-blue, barred with black, tail bluish-grey 

 with black bands, lower parts light yellowish-red with 

 oblong brown spots. Of the young the head reddish- 

 brown with black shaft-lines, the back deep brown, the 

 feathers edged with light red, space about the eyes 

 blackish, the lower parts yellowish-white, with longitu- 

 dinal brown spots. 



Male. — The Orange-legged Falcon, which in form 

 resembles the hobby, the red-throated falcon, and the 

 merlin, is remarkable for the beauty of its colouring. 

 The proportions of its pai'ts are more or less similar to 

 those of the species last described. The bill is very 

 short and strong ; the upper mandible has the dorsal 

 line curved from the base, so as to form nearly the 

 fourth of a circle, its &ides convex, its edges sharp an- 

 teriorly, with a distinct central festoon, anterior to 

 which is a narrow dentiform process, having between 

 it and the acute descending tip a rather deep sinus,. 



