ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA.

FAL-FAL

FALABA, & town West Aone, at the foot of the Kon authentic information, one ser un carrying it back to

ALABA, a town of West Africa, about 190 miles N. W. | when the race or the religion was introduced there is n

described as distinct under the name of F. melanogenys. Here, as in so many other cases, it is almost impossible to decide as to which forms should, and which should not, be accounted merely local races. In size not surpassing a Raven, this Falcon (fig. 1) is perhaps the most powerful Bird-of-Prey for its bulk that flies, and its courage is not less than its power. It is the species, in Europe, most commonly trained for the sport of hawking (see FALCONRY). Volumes have been written upon it, and to attempt a complete account of it is, within the limits now available, impossible. The plumage of the adult

the passover, the harvest feast, the Baala Mazâlat or feast | the "Duck-Hawk," and those from Australia have been of tabernacles (during which, however, no booths are built), the day of covenant or assembly, and Abraham's day. It is believed that after death the soul remains in a place of darkness till the third day, when the first taskar or sacrifice for the dead is offered; prayers are read in the mesgeed for the repose of the departed, and for seven days a formal lament takes place every morning in his house. No coffins are used, and a stone vault is built over the corpse so that it may not come into direct contact with the earth. The Falashas are an industrious people, living for the most part in villages of their own, or, if they settle in a Christian or Mahometan town, occupying a separate quarter. They engage in agriculture, manufacture pottery, iron ware, and cloth, and are specially sought after for their skill in masonwork. Their numbers are variously estimated at from 80,000 to 200,000.

See Nott and Gliddon, Types of Mankind, 1868; Flad, Zwölf Jahre in Abyssinia, Basel, 1869, and his Falashes of Abyssinia, translated from the German by S. P. Goodhart, London, 1869.

FALCON (Latin, Falco, French, Faucon; Teutonic, Falk or Valken), a word now restricted to the high-couraged and long-winged Birds-of-Prey which take their quarry as it moves; but formerly it had a very different meaning, being by the naturalists of the last and even of the present century extended to a great number of birds comprised in the genus Falco of Linnæus and writers of his day,2 while, on the other hand, by falconers, it was, and still is, technically limited to the female of the birds employed by them in their vocation (see FALCONRY), whether" long-winged" and therefore "noble," or "short-winged" and "ignoble."

According to modern usage, the majority of the Falcons, in the sense first given, may be separated into five very distinct groups: (1) the Falcons pure and simple (Falco proper); (2) the large northern Falcons (Hierofalco, Cuvier); (3) the "Desert Falcons" (Gennæa, Kaup); (4) the Merlins Esalon, Kaup); and (5) the Hobbies (Hypotriorchis, Boie). The precise order in which these should be ranked need not concern us here, but it must be mentioned that a sixth group, the Kestrels (Tinnunculus, Vieillot) is often added to them. This, however, appears to have been justifiably reckoned a distinct genus, and its consideration may for the present be deferred.

The typical Falcon is by common consent allowed to be that almost cosmopolitan species to which unfortunately the English epithet "peregrine" (ie., strange or wandering) has been attached. It is the Falco peregrinus of Tunstall (1771) and of most recent ornithologists, though some 3. prefer the specific name communis applied by J. F. Gmelin a few years later (1788) to a bird which, if his diagnosis be correct, could not have been a true Falcon at all, since it had yellow irides-a colour never met with in the eyes of any bird now called by naturalists a "Falcon." This species inhabits suitable localities throughout the greater part of the globe, though examples from North America have by some received specific recognition as F. anatum

1 Unknown to classical writers the earliest use of this word is said to be by Servius Honoratus (circa 390-480 A.D.) in his notes on En.

lib. x. vers. 145. It seems possibly to be the Latinized form of the

Teutonic Falk, though falz is commonly recounted its root.

The nomenclature of nearly all the older writers on this point is extremely confused, and the attempt to unravel it would hardly repay the trouble, and would undoubtedly occupy more space than could here be allowed. What many of them, even so lately as Pennant's time, termed the "Gentle Falcon" is certainly the bird we now call the GosHawk (i.e., Goose-Hawk), which name itself may have been transferred to the Astur palumbarius of modern ornithologists, from one of the long-winged Birds-of-Prey.

Among them Mr Sharpe, who, in his recent Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, has besides rejected much of the evidence that the experience of those who have devoted years of study to the Falcons has supplied.

is generally blackish-blue above, and white, with a more or less deep cream coloured tinge, beneath-the lower parts, except the chin and throat, being barred transversely with black, while a black patch extends from the bill to the ear-coverts, and descends on either side beneath the mandible. The young have the upper parts deep blackish-brown, and the lower white, more or less strongly. tinged with ochraceous-brown, and striped longitudinally with blackish-brown. From Port Kennedy, the most northern part of the American continent, to Tasmania, and from the shores of the Sea of Ochotsk to Mendoza in the Argentine territory, there is scarcely a country in which this Falcon has not been found. Specimens have been received from the Cape of Good Hope, and it is only a question of the technical differentiation of species, whether it does not extend to Cape Horn. Fearless as it is, and adapt, ing itself to almost every circumstance, it will form its eyry equally on the sea-washed cliffs, the craggy mountains, or (though more rarely) the drier spots of a marsh in the northern hemisphere, as on trees (says Schlegel) in the forests of Java, or the waterless ravines of Australia. In the United Kingdom it was formerly very common, and hardly a high rock from the Shetlands to the Isle of Wight but had a pair as its tenants. But the British gamekeeper has long held the mistaken faith that it is his worst foe, and the number of pairs which are now allowed to rear their brood. unmolested in these islands must be small indeed. Yet its utility to the game-preserver, by destroying every one of his most precious wards that shews any sign of infirmity, can hardly be questioned by reason, and no one has more earnestly urged its claims to protection than Mr G. E. Freeman (Falconry, &c., p. 10). Nearly allied to this Falcon

It is not to be inferred, however, as many writers have done, that Falcons habitually prey upon birds in which disease has made any

are several species of which it is impossible here to treat | known about them, their position must remain doubtat length, such as F. barbarus of Mauritania, F. minor of South Africa, the Asiatic F. babylonicus, F. peregrinator of India-the Shaheen, and perhaps F. cassini of South America, with some others.

the capture of insects, which form its ordinary food. It is coveries he and Captain Cautley received in 1837 the a summer visitant to most parts of Europe, including these Wollaston medal in duplicate from the Geological Society islands, and is most wantonly and needlessly destroyed by of London. In 1834 Falconer was appointed to inquire gamekeepers. A second European species of the group is into the fitness of India for the growth of the tea-plant, and the beautiful F. eleonora, which hardly comes further north it was on his recommendation that it was introduced into than the countries bordering the Mediterranean, and, though that country. He also made large natural history collec in some places abundant, is an extremely local bird. The tions, not only of the productions of the country round largest species of this section seems to be the Neotropical F. Saharunpoor, but also of the valley of Kashmir and the femoralis, for F. diroleucus though often ranked here is now countries to the north of it, exploring at the same time the supposed to belong to the group of typical Falcons. (A. N.) glacier on the southern flank of the Muztagh range, and FALCONE, ANIELLO (1600-1665), a battle-painter, was the great glaciers of Arindoh and of the Braldoh valley. the son of a tradesman, and was born in Naples. He He was compelled by illness to leave India in 1842, and showed his artistic tendency at an early age, received some during his stay in England, besides reading various papers instruction from a relative, and then studied under Ribera on his discoveries before several learned societies, he occu(Lo Spagnoletto), of whom he ranks as the most eminent pied himself with the classification and arrangement of the pupil. Besides battle-pictures, large and small, taken from Indian fossils presented to the British Museum and East biblical as well as secular history, he painted various reli- India House, chiefly by himself and Captain Cautley. In gious subjects, which, however, count for little in his 1848 he was appointed superintendent of the Calcutta general reputation. He became, as a battle-painter, almost botanical garden, and professor of botany in the medical as celebrated as Borgognone (Courtois), and was named college; and on entering on his duties he was at once em"L'Oracolo delle Battaglie.' His works have animation, ployed by the Indian Government and the Agricultural and variety, truth to nature, and careful colour. Falcone was Horticultural Society as their adviser on all matters conbold, generous, used to arms, and an excellent fencer. In nected with the vegetable products of India. Being com. the insurrection of Masaniello (1647) he resolved to be pelled by the state of his health to leave India in 1855, he bloodily avenged for the death; at the hands of two spent the remainder of his life chiefly in examining fossil Spaniards, of a nephew, and of a pupil in the school of art species in England and the Continent corresponding to which he had established in Naples. He and many of his those which he had discovered in India. In the course of scholars, including Salvator Rosa and Carlo Coppola, formed his researches he became interested in the question of the an armed band named the Compagnia della Morte. They antiquity of the human race, and actually commenced a Bcoured the streets by day, exulting in slaughter; at night work on "Primeval Man," which, however, he was not they were painters again, and handled the brush with im- spared to finish. He died 31st January 1865. He was a petuous zeal. Peace being restored, they had to decamp. member of many learned societies, both British and foreign. Falcone and Rosa made off to Romo; here Borgognone Shortly after his death a committee was formed for the noticed the works of Falcone, and became his friend, and a promotion of a "Falconer Memorial" This took the shape French gentleman induced him to go to France, where of a marble bust, which was placed in the rooms of the Louis XIV. became one of his patrons. Ultimately Colbert Royal Society of London, and of a Falconer scholarship obtained permission for the painter to return to Naples, and of the annual value of £100, open for competition to there he died in 1665. Two of his battle-pieces are to be graduates in science or medicine of the university of Edinseen in the Louvre and in the Naples museum; he painted burgh. a portrait of Masaniello, and engraved a few plates. Among his principal scholars, besides Rosa and Coppola (whose works are sometimes ascribed to Falcone himself), were Domenico Gargiuolo named Micco Spadaro, Paolo Porpora, and Andrea di Lione.

Dr Falconer's botanical notes, with 450 coloured drawings of Kashmir and Indian plants, have been deposited in the library at Kew, and his Paleontological Memoirs and Notes, comprising all biographical sketch, by Charles Murchison, M.D., London, 1868. his papers read before learned societies, have been edited, with a

FALCONER, HUGH (1808-1865), a distinguished FALCONER, WILLIAM, our greatest naval poet,-Charles palæontologist and botanist, descended from an old Scotch Dibdin taking rank as second,-was born in Edinburgh, family, was born at Forres, 29th February 1808. In 1826 February 11, 1732. His father was a wig-maker, and he graduated as M. A. at Aberdeen, where he began to carried on business in one of the sinall shops with wooden manifest a decided taste for the study of natural history fronts at the Netherbow Port, an antique castellated strucand botany. He afterwards studied medicine in the uniture which remained till 1764, dividing High Street from versity of Edinburgh, taking the degree of M.D. in 1829. the Canongate. The old man, who is described as a sort of Of his three children two Proceeding to India in 1830 as assistant-surgeon on the humorist, was unfortunate. Bengal establishment of the East India Company, he made were deaf and dumb; he became bankrupt, then tried busi. on his arrival an examination of the fossil bones from Ava ness as a grocer, and finally died in extreme poverty. in the possession of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and a William, the son, having received a scanty education, was description of the collection which he published immediately put to sea. gave him a recognized position among the scientists of India. In 1831 he was appointed to the army station at Meerut, in the north-western provinces, and in 1832 he succeeded his friend Dr Koyle as superintendent of the botanic garden of Sanaruupoor. He was thus placed in a district particularly rich in paleontological remains, the existence of which were, however, then unknown; and he immediately set to work to investigate both its natural history and geology. In 1834 he published a description of the geological character of the neighbouring Sewalik hills, in the Tertiary strata of which he discovered bones of crocodiles, tortoises, and other fossil remains; and subsequently, along with other conjoint labourers, he brought to light a sub-tropical fossil fauna of unexampled extent and richness. For these valuable dis

Ho served on board a Leith merchant vessel, and in his eighteenth year was fortunate enough to obtain the appointment of second mate of the "Britannia," a vessel employed in the Levant trade, and sailed from Alexandria for Venice. The "Britannia" was overtaken by a dreadful storm off Cape Colonna and was wrecked, only three of the crew being saved. Falconer was happily one of the three, and the incidents of the voyage and its disastrous termination formed the subject of his poem of The Shipwreck. "In all Attica," says Byron, "if we ex cept Athens itself and Marathon, there is no scene more in. teresting than Cape Colonna. To the antiquary and artist, sixteen columns are an inexhaustible source of observation and design to the philosopher the supposed scene of Plato's conversations will not be unwelcome; and the