130 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



forms being unfortnnatel}' somewhat limited. Under the circum- 

 stances, therefore, and until we know more about these smaller 

 Falcons, I consider it advisable to treat them as specifically distinct, 

 not only from F. peregrinus, but also from one another. I shall, 

 however, be quite prepared to learn that F. punicus and F. harhanm 

 are specifically inseparable, one from the other, whatever may be the 

 case as regards their relation.ship to the larger F. peregrinus. I 

 cannot, however, entertain the theory held by some ornithologists, 

 that F. punicus is nothing but a hybrid between F. jjeregriitus and 

 F. harharus. 



Another small Falcon, the specific identity of which is very doubt- 

 ful, is Falco minor, Bp., which is chiefly found in South Africa, and 

 possibly occurs north of the Equator. 



Regarding all three of these small Falcons, further information is 

 required, and more complete series of specimens of each are needed 

 before we can unravel the mystery in which they are at present 

 shrouded, and come to some satisfactory conclusion as to their 

 identity. 



In my collection from Tunisia, I have no examples oi F. punicus 

 in fully adult plumage, though I have specimens in immature dress, 

 which I can only refer to this species. According to Professor Giglioli 

 (Avifauna Italica, p. 254), he received an adult male of this species, 

 obtained near Tunis in 1876, which in its appearance tallied perfectly 

 with the figure of the type of F. punicus, Levaill. (Expl. Scient. Alg. 

 Ois. i, pi. 1). Salvin appears to have obtained an adult male of the 

 species at the Djebel Dekma in the Eastern Atlas, which he after- 

 wards presented to the Norwich Museum. Another example, a 

 female, also from the Eastern Atlas, which was kept alive for some 

 time by Mr. J. H. Gurney, is also preserved in the Norwich Museum. 

 These two specimens are referred to by Mr. Gurney, in his table of 

 measurements of this and allied species {Ibis, 1882, pp. 313 and 315), 

 where we find the following results of a careful examination of a fair 

 series of specimens. 



F. punicus. F. barbarus. F. minor. 



Male wing .. .. 11-25 — 11-GO .. 10-95 — 11-40 .. 10-80—11-25 

 Female wing .. 13.0 — 13.30 .. 11-10- 11-GO .. 12-70—12 95 



Alluding to the relative measurements of these three Falcons, Mr. 

 Gurney writes as follows : " It will be seen by this summary that, 

 as regards the females, F. barbarus is the smallest species of the three. 



