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

Falco naumanni: - the talon is small, the proximal end of the bone is wide, - the tuberculum extensorium is thin in lateral view, - the crista medialis is big, and strongly elevated. 4th toe Phalanx 1. digiti 4 posterior The phalanx 1 dig. 4 post, is longest in the Hobby, a bit shorter in the Merlin. Compared to its length in both species the phalanx is thin, and hence the GL/CW ratios are high. The phalanx of the Kestrel is considerably shorter and thicker, and hence from the former species can be separated with the help of the ratio value. In average the phalanx of the Red-footed Falcon is only slightly shorter than the Kestrel's, but much thinner, and that of the Lesser Kestrel is short and thick (Plate XXXIII, Figure 1). In the Hobby the corpus phalangis is slender, in dorsal view its contours are concave. In the Merlin the contours are straight (Plate XLV, Figures 29-30). In the Hobby the condylus medialis of capitulum phalangis extends in distal direction more (Plate XLV, Figures 29-30), and the plantar edge of the condylus is more pointed, its appendix is bigger than in the Merlin. The plantar edge of condylus medialis is also pointed in the Red-footed Falcon, similar to that of the Hobby, but in the Kestrel its blunt (medial view) (Plate XLV, Figures 14-15). The plantar appendix of condylus medialis is bending stronger in medial direction in the Hobby and Merlin than in the Kestrels. The condylus medialis on the plantar side attaches to the corpus phalangis more evenly on a longer stretch in the Merlin than in the Hobby and the Kestrels. In the Red-footed Falcon the condylus medialis on the plantar side in proximal direction is very short, and attaches to the corpus very sharply, without any sloping (medial view)(Plate XLV, Figure 15). The condylus lateralis in dorso-plantar direction is a bit higher, and in distal direction is located more forward (the difference is smaller between the distal edges of the condyli) in the Kestrel than in the other species, especially so in the Red-footed Falcon. Consequently in the Kestrel the sulcus intercondylaris is more developed and deeper than in the rest of the species. In the Red-footed Falcon this feature is practically missing (Plate XLV, Figures 29-30). The plantar part of condylus lateralis in the Hobby is pointed, and in proximal direction very short. This extends backwards longer in the Merlin and Kestrel (in the Kestrel less os as a consequence of its shorter phalanx). In the Red-footed Falcon the part extending backwards becomes gradually thinner and hence attaches smoothly to the corpus. Summary Falco subbuteo: - the phalanx is long and narrow, - the corpus phalangis is "slender" its contours are concave in dorsal view, - the condylus medialis in distal direction is located more forward than in the other species, the length difference between the distal edges of the condyli is great (dorsal view), - the plantar appendix of condylus medialis is big, pointed, and strongly bending in medial direction, 61