THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



281 



Falco. 



Msalon. 



Tinnunculus. 



F. ^^'segrinus. 



F. 2'>eregrinator 



F. barbarus. 



F. jngger. 



F. chernig. 



F. milvipes. 

 F. subbvteo. 

 F. sererus. 



Key to the Genera. 



Size medium to small ; toes long, middle toe without 

 claw as long, if not longer than, the tarsus ; tail round- 

 ed, not graduated ; 2nd quill longest, 1st much longer 

 than fourth. 



Size small ; 2nd and 3rd primaries longest and sub- 

 equal, first primary much shorter and approximately 

 equal to the fourth ; first two quills always notched 

 on the inner web. Other characteristics as in Falco. 

 Size small ; foot much smaller and weaker than in 

 the Falcons, mid-toe without claw being from two 

 thirds to three fourths the length of the tarsus ; Tail 

 graduated, outer rectrices being 1 to 1-J- inches shorter 

 than the middle pair. Upper parts tinged with rufous 

 throughout, with black bands in the females and young. 



Key to the Species. 



Size medium, mng in male about 12 '5 and in female 

 about 14 • 5 ; 1st primary longer than the third ; cheek- 

 stripe broader than the eye ; no nuchal collar ; crown 

 dark grey (sometimes, though rarely, black) ; breast 

 very slightly rufous. 



Size medium, \\\\\g in male about 11 " 5 and in female 

 about 13" ; 1st primary longer than the third ; cheek 

 stripe broader than the eye ; crown black or blackish ; 

 under parts rufous. 



Size, a little smaller than the above, wing 11 in males 

 to 12*5 in females ; 1st primary longer than the third ; 

 cheek-stipe narrow, a buff nuchal collar ; head ashy 

 grey or rufous. 



Wing in male about 12 "5 and in female about 1 

 1st primary subequal to 3rd or shorter ; a distinct nar- 

 row cheek-stripe ; middle tail feathers entirelj' brown 

 in adults. 



Wing in male about 14 • 5 and in female about 15 • 5"; 

 1st primary subequal to 3rd or shorter ; no c '.eek-stripe ; 

 middle tail feathers, usually brown with white spots 

 on each web, adults not banded above. 



Wing in male 14 and in the female about 16" ; adults 

 banded with rufous on back, wings, and tail. 



Size small, wing of male 10| and of female about 11" ; 

 Breast white or buff with brown streaks. 



Very similar to F. buteo except that this species 

 has a deep rufous breast, unspotted in adults. 

 .g._Both the Hobbies {F. subbuteo and severiis) resemble 

 the Peregrine group in having the first primary longer 

 than the third. 



The size, as indicated by the length of wing, is some- 

 what misleading Avhen the Shaheen or Barbary Falcons 

 are compared ^nth the Hobbies. Half an inch or an 

 inch would appear to make very little difference, but 

 the former are altogether heavier and robuster birds 

 wdth much longer toes and more powerful claws 

 generally. Whereas the mid-toe without claw in 

 the Hobbies would not exceed 1 J" in length, in the 

 remaining sis species it will be found to be 1|" or over. 



)-i 



