10 



FALCONING. 



Hypotriorchis Boie.* 



The characters in common with Falco. But the Tarsi more or less lengthened, somewhat slender, and 

 covered in front with large hexagonal scales. Toes very long and slender. 



They prefer wooded and cultivated places in various parts of the world, and are generally migratory. Their power 

 of flight is remarkable, and can be sustained for a length of time. Small birds, especially larks, fall a prey to the 

 facility and rapidity of their attacks, and the precision of their aim. It is stated of one species, that it follows the 

 flocks of migratory birds, in the rear or on the flanks of which they are often observed hovering, picking up the weak, 

 the wounded, or stragglers, and frequently making a sudden and fatal sweep into the midst of their multitudes. Their 

 nests are placed on trees or in rocks, wherein the female deposits from three to five eggs. 



1. H. Subbuteo (Linn.) Boie, PI. enl. 432. — Falco Barletta 

 Daud. ; F. pinetarius Shaw ? 



2. H. eleoronm (Gene), Pr. Bonap. Faun. Ital. Aves, t. 1. 



3. H. severus (Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xiii. 135. — F. ruflpedoiides 

 M'Clell; Faleo Aldrovandi Reinw. PI. col. 128.; F. guttatus G. R. 

 Gray. 



4. H. frontatus (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. 139-, Birds of Austr. 

 pi. — Falco lunulatus Lath.? ex Lamb. Icon. ined. 11. ; F. 

 longipennis Swains. 



5. H. rufigularis (Daud.) Tr. d'Ornith. ii. p. 131. — Falco au- 

 rantius var. Lath. ; F. thoracicus Donov. Nat. Repos. pi. 45. ; F. 

 cucullatus Swains. 



6. II. concolor (Temm.) PI. col. 330., Birds of W. Afr. 1. pi. 3. 

 — Falco ardosiacus Vieill. 



7. H. tibialis (Daud.) Tr. d'Ornith. ii. p. 120., Le Vaill. Ois. 

 d'Afr. t. 29. 



8. H. arcadicus (Linderm.) Isis, 1843. 330. t. 1. 



9. H. Chicquera (Shaw), Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 30., Gould's 

 Cent, of Birds, pi. 2. — Falco ruficollis Swains. ; F. cirrhatus var. 

 Lath. 



10. H. Msalon (Gmel.) PL enl. 447. 468. Pall. Zoogr. t. 7.— 

 Falco Lithofalco Gmel. ; F. csesius Meyer ; F. Regulus Pall, ; F. 

 sibiricus Shaw; F. intermixtus Daud. ; Type of iEsalon Kaup 

 (1829). 



11. H. columbarius (Linn.) Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 15. f. 3. — 

 Falco temerarius Audub. ; F. iEsalon Siuains. &; Rich. Faun. Bor. 

 Amer. pi. 25. ; Accipiter carolinensis Briss. ; iEsalon antillarum 

 Briss. 



12. H. Novm Zealandiee (Gmel.) — Falco Harpe Forst., Desc. 

 Anim. p. 68, 69. et Icon. ined. 36, 37, 38. ; F. brunneus Gould; 

 F. australis Homb. S; Jacq. Voy. au Pole Sud, Ois. t. 1. f. 1. 



13. ll.femoralis (Temm.) PL col. 343. 121. — Falco aurantius 

 var. Lath. 



14. H. semitorquatus (A. Smith), 111. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pi. 1. 



Ieracidea Gould, f 

 Bill like Falco. But the Wings are moderate, with the second and third quills nearly equal and 

 longest. Tarsi lengthened, rather slender, and covered in front with large hexagonal scales. The Toes 

 rather short and strong, the lateral ones equal, and the hind toe rather short ; the claws moderately 

 robust. 



The type is peculiar to Australia ; and Mr. Gould informs us that it " takes much of the habits and actions of the 

 true kestrils, particularly in the mode in which it hovers in the air ; it also often soars and skulks about after the manner 

 of the harriers. Although it sometimes captures and preys upon birds and small quadrupeds, its principal food 

 consists of carrion, reptiles, and insects ; " the crops of several that Mr. Gould dissected were literally crammed with 

 the latter kind of food. It is generally to be met with in pairs, but at those seasons when hordes of caterpillars infest 

 the newly sprung herbage, it congregates in flocks of many hundreds. The nest is composed outwards of sticks, and 

 lined with strips of stringy bark, leaves, &c. The female deposits therein two eggs." 



1. I. berigora (Vig. & Horsf.) Gould, Linn. Trans, xv. 184., B. 

 of Austr. pi. 



2. I. occidentalis Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1844. p. 105. 



* Established by M. Boie (Isis) in 1826. It contains Msalon of Kaup (1829). 

 f Mr. Gould established this division in the Proc. Z. S. for 1837 V>. 140. 



