FALCON, a term broadly given to any of many birds of the family Falconidee (q.v.), but more narrowly to the species of the typical sub family Faleonine?, whence are derived most of the hawks used in falconry. The falcons proper, for strength, symmetry and powers of flight, are the most perfectly developed of the feathered race. They are distinguished by hav ing the beak hooked at the point, the upper mandible with a notch or tooth on its cutting edge. The wings are long and powerful, the second feather rather the longest; legs short and strong. The largest falcons are the three great Arctic ones represented by the circum polar jerfalcon (Hierofalco, gyrfalco), and its congeners the Greenland, Iceland and Labrador falcons. (See JERFALCON). The type of its race, however, is the noble peregrine (Falco pere grinus), to the female of which the term "fal was alone given by falconers, and was most highly esteemed for the fierceness, dash and perfection with which she worked. The female is about 17 inches long and feet in extent of wing; the male is 2 or 3 inches less. The head, neck, a patch under the eye and the whole upper surface are dusky, with gray and brownish shades; the throat and under parts whitish or cream-colored, with dusky bars and arrowheads; legs and feet yellow, bill bluish.
It chiefly inhabits wild districts, and preys on grouse, ducks, ptarmigans, pigeons, rabbits, sea fowl, etc., pouncing upon them from above with terrific swiftness and force, and always showing the greatest courage in its encounters with rivals or in defense of its nest, which is usually placed on a ledge of some lofty cliff. This species is to be found in nearly all quarters of the globe, for the North American duck hawk (variety anatum) and certain tropical forms are only sub-species.
Other American true falcons are the pigeon-hawk, sparrow-hawk (qq.v.) and some closely allied western and northern forms. Many of the Old World falcons are famous, and are elsewhere individually described, such as the European hobby, kestrel, merlin and lanner; the Asiatic shaheen, saker, luggur, turumti and other species trained by Eastern falconers; the Australasian quail-hawk; and the large African genus Baza, which has the peculiarity of possessing two °teeth* on the edge of the beak. Another interesting genus is Microhierax, containing the finch-falcons (q.v.). Falcons attain to a great age. One is said to have been found in France, about 1790, with a collar of gold dated 1610, showing it to have belonged to James I of England.