( 182 ) 



XIII. Some interesting Additions to the Natural History of Falco 

 cijaneus and pygargus, together with Remarks on some other 

 British Birds. By George Montagu, Esq. F.L.S. 



Read May 5, 1807. 



Falco cyaneus. 



bid. Om. i. p. 39. 94. 



Hen Harrier. Lath. Syn. 



Iiiat the natural history of a bird indigenous to this country, 

 and by no means uncommon, should have so long continued in 

 obscurity, must, to those not in the habit of* investigating na- 

 ture, appear very extraordinary ; but the scrutinizing ornitholo- 

 gist will recollect how few opportunities occur of proving, or 

 controverting, a generally received opinion by ocular demon- 

 stration. Upon the present subject the mind of the scientific 

 world has been so extremely oscillatory for want of proof, that 

 most authors have related the opinions of others, or reasoned 

 from concurring circumstances, blended with parole evidence. 

 In fact, it must be confessed, that although 1 had many reasons 

 for believing the Hen Harrier, Falco cyaneus, and Ringtail, Falco 

 pygargus, to be the same species, yet I could not adduce any 

 well-authenticated proof that this was really the fact, when the 

 Ornithological Dictionary was published. It is true that I was as- 

 sured by a most worthy and scientific clergyman in Sussex, that 

 the gamekeeper of General Prescott, in whose neighbourhood 



he 



