COMMOJf FALCON. 



merous varieties, and these, having often been 

 described as distinct species, have caused much 

 confusion in ornithological works. 



The Falcon is a native of the temperate and 

 colder parts of Europe, frequenting rocky, moun- 

 tainous, and wooded regions, and preying on 

 various birds as well as on the smaller quadrupeds; 

 generally darting perpendicularly downwards with 

 great violence on its victim. It builds in the 

 hollows of rocks exposed to the South; usually 

 laying its eggs about the close of winter, or very 

 early in the spring: these are often four in num- 

 ber, and are white, spotted with brown^ So rapid 

 is said to be the growth of the young, that in the 

 space of three months they equal the parents in 

 si^e, 



The Varieties of this species are thus summed 

 up by Monsieur Daudin, in his work entitled 

 Traite elementaire et complet d'Ornithologie. 



1 . TVhite-Headed Falcon, With the head, neck, 

 ^nd breast white, with small brown spots. 



Q. TVhite Falcon. Entirely white, except a few 

 indistinct yellowish spots. 



3. Black Falcon » Upper part of head and 

 back blackish-brown; under parts of the bird 

 reddish-brown, with a black spot at the tip of each 

 feather: wings and tail blackish-brown, crossed 

 beneath with paler barKS : legs deep lead-colour. 



