FALCONIN^E. 193 



the Loo-Choo Islands (Stejneger, Proc. United States Nat. Mus. 

 1887, p. 401). 



The Peregrine is a circumpolar speeieSj and breeds in the British 

 Islands as well as in Japan. 



American ornithologists regard the Nearctic Peregrine Falcons as 

 subspecifically distinct from those found in the Palaearctic Region 

 under the name of Falco peregrinvts anatum. They allege that in the 

 Nearctic species the breast of the adult bird is generally unspotted. 

 They originally described East- Asiatic examples as an intermediate 

 race under the name of Falco peregrinus orierUalis ; but Dr. Stejneger 

 and Mr. Ridgway appear to have abandoned this position, and now 

 regard Japanese and American examples as identical. Mr. Gumey 

 did not recognize the Japanese birds as distinct from those of 

 Europe. 



174. FALCO SUBBUTEO. 



(HOBBY.) 



Falco mbbiiteo, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 127 (1766). 



The Hobby is a miniature Peregrine (wing from carpal joint 11 

 to 10 inches). It is easily distinguished when adult by its chestnut 

 thighs, and at all ages by the absence of bars on its under tail-coverts 

 and central tail-feathers. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 379 (male and female 

 adult), pi. 387 (young in first plumage and in down). 



The Hobby is tolerably abundant in Yezzo (Seebohm, Ibis, 1879, 

 p. 43) ; but, strange to say, it has not been recorded from Southern 

 Japan. 



The range of the Hobby extends from the British Islands across 

 Europe and Siberia to Japan. 



175. FALCO iESALON. 



(MERLIN.) 



Faleo essalon, Tunatall, Om. Brit. p. 1 (1771). 



The Merlin is one of the smallest Falcons (wing from carpal joint 

 9 to 8 inches) . The adult male Merlin (like the adult male Kestrel) 



