FALCONID^E. 19 



placed in a short cere, naked and rounded, with a central 

 tubercle. Wings lengthened and acute, with the second and 

 third quills the longest, and the first and second notched near 

 the tip. Tail long and rounded. Tarsi short, strong, 

 covered with small irregular scales, and the tibial feathers 

 covering the knee. Toes lengthened and strong, the lateral 

 ones unequal ; the hind toe long, armed, as well as the inner, 

 with a strong hooked and acute claw. 



24. Falco Peregrinus. (Linn,) T. Eni, 430, 



421, 470, 459; F. Barbarus, L. ; F. Communis, 



Briss. 



GENERAL colour above, deep bluish lead- colour, barred with 

 black ; crown of the head and upper part of neck nearly 

 black ; greater wing -feathers dusky, with oval white spots. 

 Tail similar to the back, and much barred ; beneath each eye 

 a patch of black. Under parts, from chin to bottom of the 

 breast, yellowish white, a brownish streak down the shaft of 

 each feather. Thighs and remainder of body dirty-white, 

 barred with deep-brown. Bill blue; the cere yellow. 

 Length, 1' 9"; wing, 14" ; tail, 8". 



The above description and measurements are taken from a fine 

 European female in the South African Museum. A young male is 

 more rufous on the back, and the under parts more mottled with brown. 

 It is likewise much smaller. 



Mr. Sclater quotes a single specimen as having been received from 

 Natal; but I have not seen it from within the limits of the Cape Colony, 

 where the next species seems to take its place. 



25. FalCO Minor, Bp. ; F. Peregrinoides, Smith; 

 Spervel of Colonists. 



THE description given of F. Peregrinus will suffice equally 

 well for this species, with the exception that all the speci- 

 mens that have fallen under my observation seem to be 

 duller- coloured. The great distinction is, however, in the 

 size, the present bird measuring as follows : 



d Length, 16J" ; wing, 12" 3'" ; tail, 8". 



p . 18i"; wing, 13"; tail, 8f . 



The little peregrine seems to have a pretty general range over the 

 colony, several specimens having reached me from different localities. 

 I have likewise seen it on the wing several times near Cape Town, 

 and purchased one in tke flesh which was being carried through the 

 town by a shooter. Mr. Atmore writes from Swellendam : " It is not 

 rare about here, but very difficult to get, except in the breeding time, 

 when they come after the poultry." 



