Letters, Announcements, ^r, 465 



It appears to me, however, that Ospreys from the Atlantic 

 coast of North America are, on the average, of somewhat larger 

 size than those from the Pacific coasts. I may add that Syr- 

 niwn cinereum, though not included in the list above referred 

 to, is certainly identical on the two continents of Europe and 

 North America. 



Professor Baird includes in the same list Archibuteo lagopus, 

 with reference to which I wish to observe that I have examined 

 a large number of species of Rough-legged Buzzards, obtained 

 both in Europe and in North America, and I have also kept 

 alive for several years specimens obtained in Labrador, as well as 

 English examples, and the conclusion at which I have arrived is, 

 that the true A. lagopus does not occur in America, and that 

 the American birds which most resemble the European species 

 are, in fact, only the paler examples of A. sancti-johannis. 



I have for many years made a point of examining, as carefully 

 as I have been able, as many specimens as possible of the Pere- 

 grine Falcon from all parts of both hemispheres where that 

 widely-spread species occurs, and I have found myself entirely 

 unable to detect any constant specific difference that may be 

 relied on between the thfee supposed species, Falco peregrinus, 

 F. anatum, and F. nigriceps. 



In this case, as in that of the Osprey, specimens from the 

 Pacific coast (where this Falcon ranges from Vancouver's Island 

 northward to Chili southward) appear to be of a slightly smaller 

 average size than those found in the countries of North America 

 lying towards the Atlantic Ocean ; but I cannot think that 

 there is sufficient variation in this respect to admit of specific 

 separation . 



South of Chili, in the southern part of Patagonia and about 

 the Straits of Magellan a really distinct i-ace does occur, 

 closely allied to F. melanogenys of Australia, from which, 

 indeed, it only differs in its slightly larger size. It is worthy of 

 remark that the three southern races of Peregrine Falcons, viz. 

 this Magellan race, to which, I believe, no specific name has yet 

 been given, F. melanogenys, of Australia, and F. minor, of South 

 Africa, all agree between themselves, and differ from the true 

 F. peregrinus in having much narrower spaces than occur in 



N. S. — VOL. 111. 2 I 



