FALCONIN^E. 29 



finement vary somewhat in the shades of their plumage from those 

 subject to the more vigorous actions of a wild state of life. 



2nd. (Lanners — Gennaia, Kaup.) 

 They differ from the last by their somewhat lengthened tail, 

 shorter toes, and narrower cheek stripe. The two first quills are 

 emarginated. They are of large size, and some of them at all 

 events breed on trees. 



10. Falco Sacer, Schlegel. 



F. lanarius, Gray, Cat. B. M.— Horsf., Cat. 22— Pallas Z. K. 

 A. — F. Cherrug, Gray, Haedw., 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 25 — Gould, 

 Birds of Europe, pi. 20 — F. milvipes, HoDGS. — Gray's Zool. 

 Misc. — Chargh. H. (female); Charghela (the male) — Saker or El 

 Salikr (in N. Africa). 



The Saker or Cherrug Falcon. 



Descr. — Young bird with the top of the head yellowish white, 

 brown streaked; upper parts brown, with slight pale edging 

 to some of the feathers. Beneath white, with large oval brown 

 spots ; legs and feet pale bluish ; bill and cere bluish blackish at tip. 

 The adidt has the upper parts rather pale slaty brown, almost slaty 

 in old birds ; cheek stripe indistinct ; top of the head reddish ash 

 color with fine black streaks ; chin Avhite ; breast and lower 

 parts white, with oblong, slaty spots ; cere greenish white ; feet 

 lemon yellow. 



Length of a male 18 inch; wing 12^; tail 7^. Of a female 20 

 to 21 ; wing 14 ; tail 8. 



The researches of naturalists of late have made known that the 

 Saker and Lanner of the old writers on Falconry are in reality 

 two distinct species, found in the East and South of Europe, 

 Asia, and Northern Africa. I have followed Bonaparte in assigning 

 F. Sacer to the Falcon found, though rarely, in the Himalayan 

 range. Hodgson sent it from Nepal, and according to the 

 testimony of native Falconers, it used to be brought for sale 

 freqiiently in the good old times, and was usej^ for striking antelopes, 

 hares, &c. It is stated that theLauncr is now used in North Africa 



