BIRDS OF PREY. ■ 311 



of an uniform slate colour, the tail somewhat darker in hue than the other feathers. The cere, the 

 bare place round the eyes, and the feet are brick red ; the beak is yellow at its base and greyish blue 

 towards the tip. The head and nape of the female are light rust red, the rest of the body blueish 

 grey, striped with a darker shade upon the mantle and tail"; the beard is brown, but with this 

 exception, the front of the throat and sides of the neck are entirely white ; the lower parts of the body 

 are reddish, some of the shafts of the feathers being streaked with brown ; the cere, eye-rings, and 

 feet are orange. In the young birds the upper part of the body is dark brown, having every feather 

 bordered with reddish yellow ; the tail is of the latter colour, and marked with eleven or twelve dark 

 streaks ; the belly is reddish white, and the bare spots are lighter than in the female ; the pupil of 

 the eye is invariably brown. 



The Red-footed Falcon inhabits the South-eastern parts of Europe and Central Asia, 

 and is but rarely seen in the western countries of our continent ; the extensive steppes of Hungary, 

 Russia, and Asia must be regarded as its actual habitat, and from these tracts it migrates about August 

 or September to India (it seldom visits either Egypt or Africa), and returns to Europe early in the 

 spring. So closely does this species resemble the Kestrel in its movements, that when seen flying or 

 perching it is extremely difficult to distinguish the one from the other, and the sound of their voices is 

 almost identical; but when upon the ground the Red-footed Falcon is more active than the Kestrel; 

 it lives almost entirely upon insects, and devours enormous numbers of grasshoppers, butterflies, 

 beetles, and dragon-flies, usually capturing its prey when upon the wing. The eggs, four or five in 

 number, are laid about May; they are small and round, with a very thin, yellow shell, marked 

 with various spots of dark and light reddish brown. It is no uncommon circumstance for a pair of 

 these Falcons to seize upon a Magpie's nest ; and as the owner is generally not inclined to resign 

 possession quietly, but calls loudly to its companions for assistance, long and severe are the battles 

 that ensue. The young leave the nest about April, and are carefully trained in the art of obtaining 

 prey by their parents until such time as the flock migrates. These birds are easily tamed, and cannot 

 fail to attract attention by their beauty and the affection with which they regard those who show 

 them kindness. 



THE SPARROW FALCON. 



The Sparrow Falcon (Rhynchodon sparverius) is a well-known member of this group, 

 inhabiting the entire continent of America. This species varies so remarkably in its plumage as 

 to render description almost impossible ; indeed, it would be difficult to find two specimens com- 

 pletely alike in their colours. Suffice it, therefore, to say that the feathers upon the back are usually 

 reddish brown, striped with black ; the outer web of the quills is black, the two exterior quills being 

 bordered with white, and the rest spotted with white towards the root ; the inner web is tipped with 

 white and marked with conical black and white spots, which run one into the other. The eyes, cere, 

 and feet are yellow, the beak is tipped with blackish blue, whilst the middle portion is whitish blue 

 and the base yellow. This species measures about nine inches ten lines in length, and is about 

 twenty inches broad ; the wing measures six inches nine lines, and the tail about four inches. The 

 female is an inch longer and two inches broader than her mate. Some naturalists consider that the 

 species found in North and South America are different, but in this opinion we do not concur. 



Our readers will form an accurate idea of the Sparrow Falcon if we describe it as a very 

 powerful and courageous Kestrel, which subsists not merely upon insects or small quadrupeds, but 

 will grapple with the largest of its own formidable race. Tschudi tells us that it pounces upon an 

 adversary five times as large as itself, and despite all efforts to dislodge it, succeeds in overcoming 

 its prey. Naturalists differ as to the situations preferred as breeding-places, some affirming that the 



