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

Phalanx 3 digiti 2 posterior For the phalanx 3 dig. 2 post, all the characteristics described at ph. 2 dig. 1 post, is relevant (Plate XXX, Figure 2). 3d toe Phalanx 1 digiti 3 posterior The phalanx 1 dig. 3 post, in the Kestrel is considerably shorter than in the Merlin and Hobby, inasmuch that this species can be safely (the overlap is minimal) separated from the other two on the basis of the length of the phalanx. The length of the phalanx of the Kestrel shows a greater overlap with that of the Red-footed Falcon, and that of the Lesser Kestrel coincides with the length of the Red-footed Falcon (Plate XXXI, Figure 1). The corpus phalangis - compared to the length of the phalanx - is narrowest in the Hobby, in the Merlin a bit wider, then follows the Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel. The corpus is widest (GL/CW value is lowest) in the Kestrel. The same order is found in the width of the proximal end of the bone as compared to the length (Plate XXXII, Figure 1 ). In the Hobby and Merlin the dorsal edge of the proximal end of the bone is more protruding (the tuberculum extensorium is bigger), and hence the end of the bone is higher than in the Kestrels (Plate XLV, Figures 1-4). The tuberculum collatérale mediale and tub. collat. laterale in the Kestrels are bigger than in the Merlin and Hobby, mainly elevated strongly on the plantar side (proximal view). The tuberculum collatérale mediale and laterale are the greatest in the Kestrel, and hence the hollow is deepest in this species on the plantar side of the proximal end of the bone. Furthermore in the Kestrel the crista plantaris medialis and lateralis are long in distal direction. In the Hobby and Merlin the hollow is shallower on the plantar side, and the crista plantaris medialis and lateralis are long (the medial crista is slightly longer than the lateral one) but less high than in the Kestrel. In the Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel the proximo-plantar hollow is small in extent, and the cristae plantares are shorter than in the other species. In the Hobby and Merlin the plantar edge of condylus lateralis a bit protruding outwards in lateral direction, in the Kestrels this is not so (or in the Red-footed Falcon only to a very small extent) (Plate XLV, Figures 1-4). In the Kestrel the capitulum phalangis is narrower, the sulcus intercondylaris is less wide and deeper, and at the same time in lateral view the capitulum is considerably higher than in the Hobby and Merlin (Plate XLV, Figures 1-3 and 5-6). The condylus lateralis and cond. medialis on the plantar side are connected on a longer section to the corpus in the Kestrel than in the rest of the species (lateral view) (Plate XLV, Figures 5-8). In the Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel the capitulum phalangis is considerably smaller, the sulcus intercondylaris is wider and shallower than in the Kestrel (Plate XLV, Figures 6-8 and 3-4) The depressio epicondylaris medialis and lateralis in the Kestrel are the deepest, and shallowest in the Merlin. Summary Falco subbuteo. - the phalanx is especially long, 57