THE BLACK-CHEEKED FALCON 



183 



Genus Falco. 

 Of true Falcons Australia possesses four, two larger, F. 

 suhnigcr and P. melanogenys, and two smaller, F. liypoleucus 

 and F. lunulatus. Of these Gould compares the Black-cheeked 

 (melanogenys) to the European Peregrine Falcon, the Grey 

 (liypoleucus) to the Ger-f alcon, and the Little Falcon (lunulatus) 

 to the Hobby or Merlin. All are adapted to the "gentle sport" 

 of falconry, being endowed with great and rapid powers of 

 flight, and with courage and strength to attack and carry off 

 birds much larger than themselves. The females are the larger 

 and more powerful birds. 



From life. 



Black-cheeked Falcon : Falco melanogenys. 



Melbourne Zoo. 



The Black-cheeked Falcon. 



Falco melanogenys. 



Tasmania and Australia, through the Moluccas to Java. 



Length of male 15 inches, wing 12 inches; of female 16.5 inches, wing 

 13.3 inches. Head, face, cheeks and ear-coverts deep black; upper surf ace 

 mostly bluish-ashy, barred all over with blackish; throat and upper breast 

 creamy buff, rest of under surface buffy white, closely but narrowly 

 barred with black; thighs transversely barred; bill greenish at base, 

 black at tip, under mandible deep orange; feet yellow; iris dark. The 

 young have the breast longitudinally striped, instead of barred, as in 

 the Peregrine Falcon. 



This fine Falcon hunts over steep rocky cliffs and gullies, 

 especially in the neighbourhood of water, the prey being chiefly 

 wild Duck of various species. A pair will hunt the same district 

 the year through. The eggs are two in number, of a buff 

 ground-colour, but marbled all over with deep reddish-chestnut 



