FALCONIDA— FALCONINA: FALCONS. 031 
rior size, measuring about 2.30 & 1.90, sviled whitish, ‘‘ marked irregularly with large but quite 
faint blotches of drab and yellowish-brown.” 
A. a. stria/tulus? (Lat. striatulus, finely striped.) WrsTerRN GosHAwKk. Described as 
’ y i 
having the markings of the under parts so fine and dense as to present a nearly uniform bluish- 
§ g } y 
ashy nebulation, pencilled with fine black-shafted lines. Rocky Mts. to the Pacific. (Probably 
untenable. ) 
45. Subfamily FALCONINZ: Falcons. 
Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and notch near the end of 
the cutting edge of the upper mandible (sometimes two such 
teeth), and end of under mandible truncated, with notch near 
the tip (figs. 3872, 374). Nostrils circular, high in the cere, 
with a prominent central tubercle (fig. 372). Inter-nasal 
septum extensively ossified. Palate with a median keel ante- 
riorly. Superciliary shield prominent, in one large piece. 
Shoulder-joint strengthened by union of scapular process of 
the coracoid with the clavicle (fig. 362) as in Micerastur, Her- 
petotheres, and the Polyborine alone ot Faleonde. Wings 
strong, long, and pointed, with rigid and usually straight and 
tapering flight-feathers; the tip formed by the 2d and 3d 
quills, supported nearly to their ends by the Ist and 4th, 
both of which are longer than the 5th; only one or two outer 
primaries emarginate on inner webs near the end. Tail short 
and stiff, with more or less tapering rectrices. Feet strong, 
rather short, the tarsus of less length than the tibia, feathered 
more or less extensively, elsewhere irregularly reticulate in 
small pattern varying with the genera or subgenera; never 
seutellate in single series before or behind. Middle toe very 
long; talons very strong. The true falcons are thus emi- 
Fic. 373.—A “noble” Falcon, nently distinguished from other members of the family; a 
(From Michelet.) glance at the toothed beak suffices for their recognition. 
They are birds of medium and small size, some kinds being not larger than a sparrow, but 
extremely sturdy organization, vigorous physique, and temerarious disposition. They capture 
their quarry with sudden and violent onslaught, and exhibit the raptorial nature in its highest 
degree. The typical and principal genus is Falco, of which there are several subdivisions 
corresponding to minor modifications. Upwards of fifty species are recognized. Our rather 
numerous species represent the several grades of gyrfalcons, lanners, peregrines, merlins, and 
kestrels. These I shall consider under one genus, Falco, with indication of the subgenera. 
Fia. 374. — Peregrine Falcon, greatly reduced. (From FiG. 375. — Kestrel Falcon, like our Sparrow-hawk 
Tenney, after Wilson.) (Tinnunculus), reduced. (From Dixon.) 
