2 1 2 The Falcon-like Birds 



} In the second family (Buteonidce) the vomer is never expanded anteriorly 

 * and is more applied to the under surface of the maxillopalatine processes; the 

 palate is indirectly desmognathous or schizognathous (of the "split type"), 

 the nasal bones very "incompletely ossified, and the nostrils large and without the 

 bony tubercle; the scapular process of the coracoid is not produced forward, but 

 is separated from the clavicle by a wide interval. 



THE FALCONS, GOSHAWKS, CARACARAS, AND 



ALLIES 



(Family Falconidcz) 



The Fdlconida, according to Mr. Ridgway, may be logically and advanta- 

 geously divided into four subfamilies, the Falconina or true Falcons, the Poly- 

 borincK or Caracaras, the Micrasturincs or the Tropical Goshawks, and the Herpeto- 

 therina or Laughing Falcons. The first three of these subfamilies are grouped 

 together on the ground that the posterior toe is abbreviated, being very much 

 shorter than the lateral pair, while the tarsi and toes are covered with small hexagonal 

 scales which are larger in front. In the fourth subfamily (Herpetotherintz) the pos- 

 terior toe is elongated, in fact almost equaling the lateral pair, and the tarsi and toes 

 are covered with uniformly thin, rough, imbricated scales. The Falconincs and 

 Polyborince agree in having the nostril a small, round or oblique opening, with a 

 bony-rimmed margin and central tubercle, while in the Micrasturince the nostril 

 is a large opening without either the bony-rimmed margin or central tubercle. 

 In the FalconincR the upper tomium is provided with a conspicuous tooth and 

 the lower with a corresponding notch, and one or two of the outer primaries have 

 their inner webs emarginated near their tips. The Polyborina, on the other 

 hand, have the tomia without tooth or notch, and three or more of the outer 

 primaries with the inner webs emarginated or sinuate near the middle portion. 



Falcons. We may appropriately begin the consideration of the first sub- 

 family with the true Falcons, which form a very large group of nearly world-wide 

 distribution. Ornithologists are not agreed as to the generic limits within the 

 groups of Falcons, some placing them all in the genus Falco, which is the treat- 

 ment here adopted, while others have separated them into several, of course 

 closely related, genera. They are mostly medium-sized or large birds of stout, 

 compact build and active habits. They have long, pointed wings in which never 

 more than two primaries are emarginated. The middle toe is usually very long, 

 never much shorter and sometimes longer than the tarsus, which is never with 

 a single continuous row of transverse plates, either in front or behind. The bill 

 is strong, broad at base, and the upper mandible provided with a very prominent 

 notch and tooth. 



The Gyrfalcons (Subgenus Hierofalco) form a striking group of large, closely 

 allied Falcons,in which the middle toe is shorter than the tarsus, which is densely 

 feathered in front and on the sides for the upper two thirds. A further mark of 



