I 



180 FALCO PEREGRINUS. 



throat is whitish, the mystachial band blackish-brown, 

 proportionally more pointed than in the adult ; the lower 

 parts reddish-white, with large longitudinal dark brown 

 markings, the central part of each feather being of that 

 colour. 



Progress towards Maturity. — As the birds ad- 

 vance in age, the plumage on the upper parts becomes 

 of a lighter tint, more tinged with blue ; that of the 

 lower parts whiter, with the dark markings smaller, 

 and more guttiform, and instead of being longitudinal 

 assuming a transverse direction. Considerable varia- 

 tions are thus produced, which to persons accustomed 

 to look chiefly to colour for specific distinctions, might 

 seem sufficient to mark out dirstinct species. The only 

 permanent character in all stages, M. Temminck re- 

 marks, is the broad mystachial dark brown band ; but a 

 person accustomed to compare birds in different states, 

 can have no difficulty in distinguishing a peregrine of 

 any age, or of either sex. 



Remarks. — The peregrine falcon affords a good ex- 

 ample of one of the more remarkable varieties of the 

 flight of birds. Those which have the body bulky, the 

 wings short and rounded, as the grous and water ouzel, 

 have a direct flight, not in general rapid ; those which 

 have the body full, the wings. long and sharp, have also 

 a direct steady flight, but generally rapid, as is the case 

 with our falcon and the rock pigeon. Birds having the 

 body light and the wings short, as the Gallinules, also 

 fly steadily, but with comparatively little speed ; when 

 the wings are large and broad, as in the heron, the 



