FALCONIB^ — FALCONINJE: FALCONS. 



531 



rior size, measuring about 2.30 X 1-90, soiled whitish, " inarked in-eguhivly with large but quite 

 faint blotches of drab and yellowish-brown." ^ 



497. A. a. stria'tulus ? (Lat. striatulus, finely striped.) Westekn Goshawk. Described as 

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

 ashy nebulation, pencilled with fine black-shafted lines. Eocky Mts. to the Pacific. (Probably 

 untenable.) 



45. Subfamily FALCONIN/E: Falcons. 



Bill furnished with a sharp tooth and notch near the end of 

 the cutting edge of the upper mandible (sometimes two such 

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

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

 with a prominent central tubercle (fig. 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 coraooid with the clavicle (fig. 362) as in Micrastwr, Ifer- 

 petotheres, and the Poly'borince alone of Falconidm. Wings, 

 .^trong, long, and pointed, with ligid and usually straight and 

 tapering flight-feathers ; the tip formed 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 emai'ginate on inner webs near the end. Tail short 

 and stiff, with more or less tapering rectrices. Feet strcmg, 

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

 more or less extensively, elsewhere irregularly reticulate in 

 small pattern varying with the genera or subgenera ; never 

 ^^^ , * "/ -T ^, scutellate in single series before or behind. Middle toe very 



y, r^ Y ' long ; talons very strong. The true falcons are thus emi- 



FiG. 373. —A "noble" Falcon, nently distinguished from other members of the family; a 

 (From Miohelet.) glance at the toothed beak suffices foi- 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 Faleo, 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 gyrfalcons, lanners, peregrines, merlins, and 

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



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

 Tenney, after Wilson.) 



Fig. SJH. — Kestrel Falcon, like our Sparrow-hawk 

 (Tinnunculits), reduced. (From Dixon.) 



