Folia Historico-Naturalia Musei Matraensis - A Mátra Múzeum Természetrajzi Közleményei 21. (1996)

In the Kestrel this plate is generally narrower, widest at the section prior the apex, and narrows towards the apex. In the Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel the shape of the plantar plate of the crista of the hypotarsus is most similar to that of the Merlin, but narrows to a smaller extent towards the apex (Plate XLÏÏI, Figures 6-10). The edge at dorso-lateralis margin of corpus tarsometatarsi in the Merlin - and to a smaller extent in the Kestrel - is protruding like a rib, in the Hobby, Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel does not protrude at all. In the Kestrel the trochlea metatarsi III is relatively smaller, and extends less forward in distal direction (the os metatarsale III is shorter) than in the rest of the species. But the trochlea metatarsi IV is placed more forward in distal direction, and hence the arch connecting the ends of the trochleae is the most flattened (Plate XLI, Figure 19). An another characteristic of the Kestrel is that as the trochlea metatarsi IV is placed more forward the distance difference between the ends of trochlea metatarsi II and tr. met. IV is less, and hence the line connecting the two trochleae is forming a larger degree with the longitudinal axis of the tarsometatarsus (it is nearer to the right angle) than in the rest of the species. We find the greatest length difference in the Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel between the distal edges of trochlea metatarsi II and tr. met. IV. The trochlea metatarsi II in distal direction is reaching more forward, and the tr. met. IV is located more backwards than in the rest of the species. And hence the line connecting the distal edges of the two trochleae meets the longitudinal axis of the tarsometartarsus in the sharpest angle (Plate XLI, Figures 17-20). In the Hobby and Merlin the location of the trochleae is not different, in both of the species the trochlea metatarsi ГУ is located more backwards proximally (Plate XLI, Figures 17-18). In the Hobby all of the three trochleae, and in the Red-footed Falcon the trochlea metatarsi III is relatively larger than in the rest of the species (Plate XLIII. Figures 11-14). Summary Falco subbuteo: - the tarsometatarsus is relatively short, the ends of the bones are great (PW, DW), - the plane of the proximal end of the bone is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (dorsal view), - the corpus tarsometatarsi on the proximal part is wide (dorsal view), - the crista medialis hypotarsi at the apex is more rounded (medial view), the plate at the plantar edge is wide, widens towards the apex, and rounded at the end (plantar view), - the trochleae are the biggest in this species. Falco columbarius: - the tarsometatarsus is long, the corpus is relatively thin (GL/CW value is high), - the plane of the proximal end of the bone is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (dorsal view), - the medial edge of cotyla medialis is high, - the tuberositas musculi tibialis cranialis is small, - the crista medialis hypotarsi on the part at the tip is more pointed (medial view), the plate at the plantar edge is wide, narrows towards the apex (plantar view), - on the dorso-lateral margin of corpus tarsometatarsi there is a rib-like edge. Falco tinnunculus. - the tarsometatarsus is especially long, the corpus is wide, - the proximal end of the bone is relatively narrow (PW), 49