BIKD-BONES FOUND IN THE CAVES. 229 



the humerus of the females of this species, the size of which is always a little 

 larger than that of the males. M. Lartet also collected at Massat another arm- 

 bone of a Falcon which I think can be identified with this species. The Hobby 

 now inhabits all Europe, a part of Asia, and the north of Africa. It is rather 

 common in the north of France and in Germany. 



7. THE KESTREL. Falco tinnunculus, Linne". Le Faucon cresserelle. 



Of all the Birds of prey the Kestrel is the most common in France, where it 

 nests in holes in the rocks, and sometimes even on trees ; it is also the Hawk 

 whose bones have been most frequently found in the Caves. That at Lacombe-Tayac 

 has furnished some remains of it, especially a tarso-metatarsal and several humeri. 

 Several tibias and some ulnas were collected at Bruniquel ; a leg-bone was found 

 in the Grotte des Demoiselles (Dordogne) : this bone is a little larger than usual, 

 but in other respects presents all the characters proper to Falco tinnuncnlus. 

 I should also mention a tibia from the Cave of Gourdan. I have likewise ascer- 

 tained the presence of this species in the Cave at Verezzi in Liguria* ; but together 

 with it was found the Falco cenchris, Naum., the existence of which has never 

 been noticed in the Caves of the South-west of France. 



8. THE ROYAL KITE. Falco milvus, Linne; Milmis regalis, Brisson. Le Milan 



royal. 



A humerus from the Station of Aurignac is the only relic of this Bird which 

 has hitherto been found in the prehistoric deposits, either in France or in other 

 countriesf. The Royal Kite is nevertheless far from rare in the South-west of 

 France, principally in the Department of Landes, where it is a constant resident. 



9. THE BEARDED VULTURE. Vultur barbatus, Linne"; Gypaiitus barbatm, Tem- 



minck. La Gypaete barbu. 



A fragment of the upper mandible of this species was found in the Cave at 

 Lacombe-Tayac. This part is so well characterized in the Gypaetus that there 

 can be no uncertainty about its determination ; I have given a figure of it in my 

 work on Fossil Birds {. 



An ulna and a humerus collected at Bruniquel belong to this same species, 

 which nowadays lives in the Pyrenees as well as in the Alps, in the north of 

 Africa, and extends even into Asia as far as the chain of the Himalayas. 



* Ramorino, " Sopra le Caverne di Liguria," Atti dell' Accademia delle Soiecze di Torino, Ser. 3, t. xxiv. 

 p. 29. f See A. Milne-Edwards, op. cit. t. ii. p. 472, pi. 187. figs. 16, 17. t Op. cit. pi. 188. figs. 1-3. 



