27 
of the United States . 
§ 2. Bill curved from the base . 
Accipiter Briss. Falco , Brehm. 
* Bill with a sharp tooth each side . 
SUBGENUS IV. FALCO. 
Falco , Bechstein. Falco , Hierofalco , Cuv. 
Faucons pro prement dits, Temm. Falco , Tinnunculus , Vieill. 
Bill short, curved from the base ; lateral tooth closing into 
an emargination of the lower mandible ; cere very short, 
naked : nostrils rounded, with a central tubercle. Feet strong; 
tarsi moderate ; toes strong, elongated, the anterior connected 
at base by a membrane ; nails long, sharp, incurved. Wings 
elongated; first and third primaries equal, second longest; 
first and second with an abrupt emargination on the inner 
web near the extremity. 
Female about a third larger, differing in colour from the 
adult male. 
Bold : feed chiefly on small birds ; seize their prey on the 
wing : flight vigorous : readily tamed, hence called noble ! 
f Wings reaching to the tip of the tail : tarsi reticulated . 
9. Falco peregrinus, Gm. Blackish ; beneath white, spotted 
with blackish ; cheeks with a dilated black spot ; middle toe 
as long as the tarsus ; inner web of the first primary only, 
abruptly narrowed at tip. 
Greatfooted Hawk , Falco peregrinus , Wils . Am. Orn. ix. 
p. 120. pi* 76. 
Inhabits the northern portion of both continents ; but more 
common in Europe. 
ff Wings not reaching to the tip of the tail : tarsi scutellated . 
10. Falco sparverius, L. Rufous, beneath paler, spotted 
with black ; seven black spots around the head. 
Male : upper part of the head, crown excepted, and wing- 
coverts slate-blue ; tail with a single subterminal band. 
Female and Young more fasciated and spotted; wing- 
coverts rufous ; tail fasciated. 
