FALCONIJD^ — FALCONINJS .- FALCONS. 



531 



rior size, measuring about 2.30 X 1-90, soiled whitish, "marked ineguhivly with large hut quite 

 faiut blotclies of drab and yellowish-brown." 

 497. A. a. stria'tulus ? (Lat. striatulus, finely striped.) Western Go,siia-\vk. Described as 

 having the markings of the under parts so fine and dense as to present a nearly uniform l)luisli- 

 ashy nehulation, pencilled with fine black-shafted lines. Kocky Mts. to the Pacific. (Piobably 

 untenable.) 



45. Subfamily FALCONINi'E: Falcons. 



--__ ■ Bill furnished witli a sharp tooth and notch near the end of 



the cutting edge of the ujjper maudiljle (sometimes two such 

 teeth), and end of under mandible truncated, mth notch near 

 the tip (figs. 373, 374). Nostrils circular, high in the cere, 

 with a prominent central tubercle (tig. 372). Inter-nasal 

 septum extensively ossified. Palate with a median keel ante- 

 riorly. Superciliary shield prominent, in one large piece. 

 Shoulder-joint strengthened by union of scapular process of 

 the coracoid with the clavicle (fig. 362) as in Micrastur, Her- 

 petotheres, and the Polyborince alone of FrilcoiiirliT. Wings 

 strong, long, and pointed, with rigid and usually straiglit and 

 tapering flight-feathers ; the tip forujed by the 2d and 3d 

 quills, supported nearly to their ends by the 1st and 4th, 

 both of which are longer than the 5th ; only one or two outer 

 primaries emarginatc on inner webs near the end. Tail short 

 and stifl', with more or less tapering rectrices. Feet strong, 

 rather short, the tarsus of less length than the tibia, feathered 

 more or less extensively, elsewhere irregularly i-eticulate in 

 small pattern varying with the genera or subgenera ; never 

 scutellate in single series before (jr behind. MiiJdle toe very 

 long; tab JUS very strong. The true /aico«.s are thus emi- 

 ' noble" Falcon, nently dLstinguished from other members of the family; a 

 glance at the toothed beak suffices for their recognition. 

 They are birds of medium and small size, some kinds being not larger than a sparrow, but 

 extremely sturdy organization, vigorous physique, and temerarious disposition. They capture 

 their quarry with sudden and violent onslaught, and exhibit the raptorial nature in its highest 

 degree. The typical and principal genus is Falco, of which there are several subdivisions 

 corresponding to minor modifications. Upwards of fifty species are recognized. Our rather 

 numerous species represent the several grades of gyrfiilcons, lanners, peregrines, meriins, and 

 kestrels. These I shall consider under one genus, Falco, with indication of the subgenera. 



Fig. 373. — A 

 (From Michelet.) 



Fig. 374. — Peregrine Falcon, greatly reduced. (From 

 Tenney, after Wilson.) 



B'IG. 37.5. — Kestrel Falcon, like our Sparrow-hawk 

 {Tinnunculus), TedMced. (From Dixon.) 



