128 BIRDS OP TUNISIA 



Above blackish-brown, the forehead and nape with an admixture of 

 creamy- white or buff, and the fcatliers of the baclv, rump, and upper wing- 

 coverts fringed with dusky rufous ; quills blackish ; tail barred with pale 

 rufous, the central rectrices unbarred ; moustachial stripe blackish ; chin 

 creamy-white ; rest of underparts creamy-white, heavily striped with dark 

 brown. Soft parts and measurements as in the adult. 



The Peregrine Falcon is to be found in Tunisia, but is not common 

 there, and probably only occurs in the country as a winter inif;rant. 

 My Tunisian collection contains but few examples, and these were 

 mostly obtained by the naturalist Blanc, in the neighbourhood of the 

 town of Tunis. Dr. Koenig also appears to have found the Peregrine 

 scarce in Tunisia, and there can be no doubt that the species is 

 more or less rare in the Regency. 



In his article on Falco barharus, Baron v. Erlanger mentions 

 having obtained a Falcon from the neighbourhood of Gabes, which 

 judging from the length of its wing, over 14 inches, must have 

 belonged to the present species. It certainly could not have been 

 F. barharus. It was a young male and was shot on February 15th. 



Further west this Falcon is perhaps more abundant, as both 

 Taczanowski and Loche record it as occurring throughout Algeria, 

 the latter stating that it breeds in that country, while in Marocco, 

 according to Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake and Favier, the species is connnon 

 and breeds in the neighbourhood of Tangier. 



Whether the breeding Peregrines met with by these ornithologists 

 have been true F. peregrinus, or the smaller Mediterranean form, 

 F. pwiicus, is not clear, but the resident species in North-west 

 Africa is probably the latter. Throughout Southern Europe and 

 the Mediterranean basin the true Peregrine Falcon appears to 

 occur chiefly as a winter migrant, but the species is also resident 

 in some parts of Italy, and may possibly be so in certain districts 

 south of the Mediterranean. 



Combined with marvellous powers of flight and surprising agility, 

 the Peregrine is endowed with a boldness and fearlessness which 

 secure it a foremost place among the Raptores, and at once entitle 

 it to rank as a "prince among birds." Few other species, even 

 among the larger birds of prey, will venture to enter the lists with 

 it in single combat. In the old days of Falconry the Peregrine, 

 owing to its many excellent qualities, was naturally held in high 

 esteem and looked upon as almost sacred by the votaries of the chase. 



