LANNER FALCON.

Falco lanarius, Zinn.

Le Faucon lanier.

Tue native habitat of this rare bird are the eastern portions of Europe and the adjacent parts of Asia and
Africa. It rarely passes further westward than the central parts of the European continent ; it is scarcely
ever seen in France or Holland ; and never visits Great Britain, So extremely rare it is that we are unable to
refer our readers to any collection in this country, either public or private, in which an example of this fine
Falcon may be seen. We are much indebted to our highly valued friend M. Temminck for the loan of the
two fine specimens from which our figures are taken.

In point of affinity the Lanner is directly intermediate between the Gyr-falcon and the Peregrine, the adult
female being nearly, if not quite, equal in size to the male Gyr-falcon, while the male is of the usually dimi-
nutive size common to the true Falcons. In colouring it differs very considerably from either of the above-
mentioned species, never possessing the strongly barred plumage of black and white which characterizes the
Gyr-falcon, nor the transverse markings which are found on the breast of the Peregrine. While at Vienna
we had an opportunity of observing a fine living specimen in the Royal Menagerie at Schoenbrunn: as far as
we could perceive it did not evince any peculiarity of manner to distinguish it from the Gyr-falcon or the
Peregrine ; it appeared perfectly content and docile in captivity, although it is known to be extremely bold
and daring in capturing its prey when in a state of nature. If we may Judge from the general appearance
of this bird, its strong bill, powerful body, and pointed wings, we should say that no one of its congeners
is better adapted for the purpose of Falconry.

The adult has the crown of the head reddish brown, longitudinally marked with streaks of dark brown ;
over the eye a mark of yellowish white, which extends to the occiput ; all the upper surface of a deep brown
tinged with ash, each feather being bordered with reddish brown ; a narrow line of brown from the base of
the bill beneath the ear-coverts, which are yellowish white ; all the under surface yellowish white, each feather
having lanceolate marks of dark brown ; the tail brown transversely barred with a darker colour; the cere
and legs yellow; and the irides brown.

The young of the year differs from the adult in having the cere and legs blue instead of yellow ; in having
the breast much more strongly marked with brown ; and in having the whole of the upper surface of a darker
tint.

The Plate represents an adult male and a young bird rather less than the natural size.