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

4. With the detailed morphological study of the phalanges of the legs and wings I started the research of a new domain. This topic was neglected up to now, but the legs are used in hunting in raptors, and hence there is a strong correlation between the form and function here. This is indicated by the longer digits of the Hobby and Merlin that are mainly feeding on smaller birds, and the shorter ones of the Kestrels that are mainly hunting for small mammals and insects. The study of the phalanges is also important for the paleontological research, as these bones are relatively frequently found in fossil materials. 5. The nomenclature of certain bones is supplemented, where I did not find appropriate names in the literature for a given anatomical part. The new names are the following: Mandibula: prominentia caudalis Quadratum: processus quadratojugalis Radius: tuberculum ulnare Ossa digitorum manus Phalanx digiti minoris: prominentia caudalis Ossa digitorum pedis Phalanges proximales et intermediae: tuberculum collatérale mediale tuberculum collatérale laterale crista plantaris medialis crista plantaris lateralis crista dorsalis medialis crista dorsalis lateralis condylus medialis condylus lateralis depressio epicondylaris medialis depressio epicondylaris lateralis sulcus intercondylaris tuberculum intercondylare dorsale Phalanx distalis (ungularis): tuberculum flexorium major crista medialis foramen vasculare mediale foramen vasculare laterale The topographic identification of these new names is shown on Plate Ш. 6. Based on the osteological similarities I pointed out the relatedness of the discussed species. Two main groups could be identified. One is formed by F subbuteo, F eleonorae and F columbarius, while the other is by F tinnunculus, F naumanni and F vespertinus. But the two group is not unified at all. From the first F columbarius, while from the second F vespertinus is a bit outsider as a consequence of their slightly different morphological characteristics. These differences might form the basis for the establishment of subgenus within the Falco genus. 69