FALCO. 11 :; 



Falcons have been variously arranged by different writers. The 

 Hobbies are by some divided off as fltoofribreftit; and Sharpe has 

 placed F. cherrug and F. milvi/ies with their allies the Gyrfalcons in 

 the genus Hierofalco. I should have followed this arrangement 

 but that F. jugger is exactly intermediate in structure, as it is in 

 plumage, between the Peregrine group and F. cherrug. The genus 

 Falco is found over the greater part of the world, and contains 

 about 30 species, of which 8 are Indian. 



Keif to the Species. 



a. Larger Falcons with ong toes ; mid-toe 



without claw over 17o*. 

 a'. 1st primary longer than the 3rd; upper 



parts ashy grey in adults. 

 a". Cheek-stripe broader than eye; no 



nuchal collar 

 a 3 . Crown dark grey, breast very slightly 



rufous F. peregrinus, p. 413. 



b 3 . Crown blackish, breast generally deep 



rufous F. peregrinator, p. 415. 



b". Cheek-stripe narrow, a buff nuchal 



collar ; head ashy grey or rufous .... F. barbarw, p. 417. 

 b'. 1st primary subequal to 3rd or shorter ; 



upper parts not ashy grey. 

 c". Adults not banded above. 



A distinct narrow cheek-stripe ; 



middle tail-feathers entirely brown 



in adults F. jugger, p. 419. 



d?. No cheek-stripe ; middle tail-feathers 

 usually brown, with white spots on 



both webs F. cherruy, p. 420. 



d". Adults banded with rufous on back, 



wings, and tail F. milvijjes, p. 421. 



b. Small Falcons with shorter toes; mid-toe 



without claw not over 1-6. 



c'. Breast white or buff with brown streaks . F. subbuteo, p. 422. 

 d'. Breast deep rufous, unspotted in adults . . F. severus, p. 423. 



1254. Falco peregrinus. TJie Peregrine Falcon. 



Falco peregrinus, TunstaU, Ornitk. Brit. p. 1 (1771) ;-Blyfh, Cat. 

 p 13; Horsf. 8c M. Cat. i, p. 16 ; Jerdon, Madr:Jour. L. S. x,p. /9 ; 

 id B I i, p. 21 ; Blyth, Ibis, 186(5, p. 234 ; Hume, Rough Notes, 

 ; :49; JerL, his/1871, p.' 237 ; W Radcliffe ibid, p ..MB; 



A. Anderson, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 677; 1875, p. 18 : Hume, & 1. i, 

 p. 151; ii, p. 140; iii, pp. 19, 442 ; iv, pp 279, 460 ; M i> . J; 

 id. Cat. no. 8; Hume $ Sflt. S. F. vi, ? . 1 ; 8*Uy, S. I . vi.i. 

 p. 221 ; Vidal, S. F. ix, p. 29 ; Sutler, ibid. p. 3/0; &HK Birds 

 Ceyl. p. 101 ; Biddulph, Ibis, 1881, p. 39; Scully, ibid. p. 416; 

 Gumey, Ibis, 1 882, p. 203 ; Hume $ bav. S. F. x, p. 333 ; Oates, 



B. B. ii, p. 214 ; Barm*. />'i>'ds Bom. p. 9. 



* The mid-toe is always measured from the joint at the distal end of the 

 tarsus to the base of the claw, not from the division between the toes. 



