FALCO BARBARUS 13.H 



Observations. — What I have written in the preceding article regarding 

 the uncertainty as to the specific identity of F. punicus, will apply equally 

 to the present species, but as there stated, it seems advisable, at any rate 

 for the present, to treat both these small Falcons as specifically distinct, 

 not only from F. percgriims, but also from one another. 



Although the chief habitat of F. harbanis is no doubt North-west 

 Africa, the species can hardly be considered as common there, or of 

 universal distribution throughout the country. Indeed, so far as 

 Tunisia is concerned, judging from my own experience, and that of 

 other recent travellers in the Kegency, I should be inclined to call it 

 distinctly rare there at the present day, whatever may have been the 

 case once. Its range, moreover, in Tunisia is probably more or less 

 restricted to the Atlas districts of the north-west, and does not extend 

 far, either in an easterly or southerly direction. In Algeria, and 

 particularly in the province of Constantine, the species may be less 

 uncommon than it is in Tunisia, owing to the greater extent of mouu- 

 tamous country to be found there, though I have no actual knowledge 

 that such is the case ; but the contrary, for Dr. Ivoenig, when 

 travelling in Algeria, seldom met with the bird, and considers it rare 

 in that country. It is true. Dr. Taczanowski and Loche both speak 

 of the species as being the commonest Falcon of Algeria, but they 

 nnist surely have been alluding to the Lanner and not to the present 

 species. 



Canon Tristram met with this Falcon occasionally in Algeria, and 

 shot a specimen of it in winter in the M'zab district. 



In Marocco the Barbary Falcon occurs, and I have a tine adult 

 male specimen of it, which was obtained by Mr. E. Dodson at Eas-el- 

 Ain, on the south coast of the Empire. 



According to Dr. Sharpe, a Falcon obtained by M. A. Bouvier in 

 the Cape Verd Islands, is referable to the present species. North 

 of the Mediterranean, and on the islands of that sea, the Barbary 

 Falcon appears to have been met with occasionally, though rarely. 

 The Lilford collection contains an immature specimen presumably 

 referable to this species, which was obtained at the Isola Eossa 

 on the south coast of Sardinia, and there seems to be no doubt that 

 this Falcon has twice been met with in Malta. An example in the 

 British Museum from Granada is also, according to good authority, 

 referable to F. barbarus. The species is said to occur in Egypt, and 



