FALCO. BIRDS. 185 



mammiferous animals and birds, others on fishes, and some attack reptiles. The 

 greater number of the smaller species are insectivorous, and prey chiefly on beetles. 

 Their plumage at different ages is very various. The , young are many years 

 old before coming to their full and constant plumage, this not taking place till 

 the third, fourth, and in some species till their sixth year. The_ young are always 

 distinguished from old individuals by numerous and varied lines and spots, while 

 the colour of the adult birds is generally in large masses ; and when the colours and 

 plumage of the old birds are disposed in transverse lines or spots, the young of the 

 same species have these bands and spots longitudinal. The males are always about 

 a third smaller than the females. 



1. FALCONS. 



Bill short, bent from its base ; upper mandible with one and rarely 



two strong teeth, which lock into hollows in the lower mandible ; 



legs robust; toes strong, long, armed with crooked and sharp claws ; 



tarsi short; wings long, thejirst wing-feather and the third of equal 



length, the second longest. 



The falcons prey habitually on living animals, and show much address in seizing 

 and surprising their prey. They nestle in the crevices of rocks. The greater num- 

 ber of the species of this division may be employed with success in hawking. The 

 name noble birds of prey^ which has been applied to them, comes probably from 

 the prerogative formerly attached to falconry, of which the practice was only permit- 

 ted to nobles. The species of this division are difficult to be distinguished from one 

 another, the young of the first year and the smaller species resembling one another 

 so much in colour and plumage. The comparative length of the wings and tail, and 

 the colour of the feet, cere, and eyelids, are the surest means of ascertaining the 

 specific differences. 



F. Islandicus, Lath. The Jerfalcon. Ground of the plumage white, 

 with narrow brown bands on the upper parts, and on the tail ; 

 under parts marked by little brown spots in the form of tears, most 

 numerous and largest on the flanks ; bill yellowish; cere and round 

 the eyes of a livid yellow ; iris brown ; feet of a fine yellow. Male 

 about one foot nine inches long ; the female two or three inches 

 more. Inhabits Iceland, Denmark, and North of Germany, 

 nestling in inaccessible rocks. Selby, Illust. pi. 14. 

 F.'rusticolus, Gmel. ; Gerfaut de Norwege, Buff. ; White Jerfalcon, Lath. ; Col- 

 lared Falcon, Penn The young, F. Gyrfalco and sacer, Gmel. ; Buteo cine- 

 reus, Baud ; Le Gerfaut, Le Sacre, Buff. ; Brown Jerfalcon, Lath. 

 Next to the eagle, the Jerfalcon is reputed the most formidable and active, as well 



as the most prompt and intrepid of all our predaceous birds ; and it is still the most 



esteemed for falconry. The female boldly attacks the largest of the feathered race, 



the stork, heron, and crane being its easy victims. 



F. Lanarius, Lin. The Lanner. Wings ending two-thirds from 

 the end of the tail ; middle toe shorter than the tarsus ; a very 

 narrow mustache, which disappears with age ; feet bluish; the two 

 first wing-feathers with truncated beards towards the end. In- 

 habits Europe. Tern. 20. 



F. peregrinus, Lin. The Peregrine Falcon. Wings extending to 

 the extremity of the tail ; middle toe as long as the tarsus; a very 

 large black mustache, which spreads with age ; feet yellow ; a 

 single wing-feather with truncated web towards the end. Four- 

 teen inches long. Selby, Illust. pi. 15, 15.* 

 Le Lanier, and Faucon, Buff. ; F. abietinus, Bechst. ; Blue Black Falcon, Penn. ; 



Sparviere pellegrino, Storr. The young, F. hornotinus, Briss. ; Le faucon 



sors, Buff. ; Yearling Falcon, Lath. 



