190 



BIRDS OF EGYPT. 



Plumage nearly similar to that of F. harharus, but lighter 

 and rather more rufous on the front of the head. It is the 

 size of F. lanariiis, with which it is most liable to be con- 

 founded, but differs from that bird in the absence of a 

 whitish frontal band, the rufous feathers extending on to the 

 cere and bordered behind by a broad, dark, slate-coloured 

 band across the head, which separates the forehead from the 

 rufous of the nape ; feathers on the back of the neck beloio the 

 nu])e bordered with rufous ; a comparative absence of spots on 

 the upper portion of the lower surface. Middle toe longer 

 than in F. lanarius. 



Entire length 17*5 inches; wing, carpus to tip, 12'8; 

 tarsus 2 ; middle toe 2. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Asia, pt. xx. 



176. Falco sakee, Schl. Saker Falcon. 



This large species of Falcon is rather rare in Egypt and 

 Nubia. In 1868 I obtained two specimens — one near Kom 

 Ombo, the other near Sioot. It is called by the Arabs " Saker 

 el hor ; " and they train it to hunt the Gazelle. 



Top and sides of the head white, each feather marked with 

 a longitudinal streak of brown ; remainder of the upper plu- 

 mage slaty brown ; primaries marked with cream-coloured 

 spots or bars on the inner webs ; tail marked with cream- 

 colour in the form of spots on the centre feathers, inclining to 

 bars on the outer ones ; underparts white, boldly marked 

 with large oval brown spots ; legs and cere rather dull yellow ; 

 beak horn-blue, darkest towards the tip and inclining to yellow 

 towards the base of the lower mandible ; irides lirown. 



