134 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In the adult plumage the principal variation is in the extent and disposi- 

 tion of the bars beneath. In most individuals they are regularly transverse 

 only laterally and posteriorly, those on the belly being somewhat broken 

 into more irregular cordate spots, though always transverse ; in no American 

 specimen, however, are they as continuously transverse as in a male (No. 

 18,804) from Europe, which, however, in this respect, we think, forms an 

 exception to most European examples, at least to those in tlie Smithsonian 

 Collection. All variations in the form, thickness, and continuity of the 

 markings below, and in the distinctness of the bars above, are individual. 



Very old males (as 49,790, Fort Yukon ; 27,188, Moose Factory (type of 

 Elliott's figure of F. peregrinas, in Birds of America) ; and 42,997, Spanish- 

 town, Jamaica) lack almost entirely the reddish tinge beneath, and have 

 the lateral and posterior portions strongly tinged with blue ; tlie latter 

 feature is especially noticeable in the specimen from Jamaica, in which also 

 the bars are almost utterly wanting medially. Immature birds from this 

 island also lack to a great degree the ochraceous tinge, leaving the whitish 

 everywhere purer. 



A female adult European bird differs from the average of North Ameri- 

 can examples in the conspicuous longitudinal streaks on the jugulum ; but 

 in a male these are hardly more distinct than in 13,077, 9 , Liberty Co., 

 Georgia; 11,983, " United States"; 35,456, Peel's Eiver ; 35,449, 9, and 

 35,445, 9, Fort Yukon, Alaska; 35,452, La Pierre's Hous., H. B. Ter. ; 

 35,459 (?, Fort Anderson; and 28,099 9, Hartford, Conn. In none of 

 these, however, are they so numerous and conspicuous as in a European 

 female from the Schliiter Collection, which, however, differs in these respects 

 only from Nortli American specimens. 



A somewhat melanistic individual (in second year ? 32,735, Chicago, 111. ; 

 Robert Kennicott) differs as follows : Above continuously pure black ; upper 

 tail-coverts and longer scapulars bordered terminally with rusty-whitish. 

 Tail distinctly tipped with wliite ; the inner webs of feathers with eight 

 elliptical transverse bars of pale ochraceous, and indications of correspond- 

 ing spots of the same on outer webs, forming as many inconspicuous bands. 

 Beneath ochraceous-white ; the neck, breast, and alxlomen thickly marked 

 with broad longitudinal stripes of clear black, — those on the jugulum cuneate, 

 and on the breast and abdomen broadly sagittate ; the tibiae with numerous 

 cordate spots, and sides marked more transversely ; lower tail-coverts witli 

 narrow distant transverse bars. On the chin and throat only, the whitish is 

 immaculate, on the other portions being somewhat exceeded in amount l)y 

 the black. Inner web of longest primary with seven transverse elliptical 

 bars of cream-color. Wing, 12.20 ; tail, 9.40. 



Whether the North American and European Peregrine Falcons are or are 

 not distinct has been a question undecided up to the present day ; almost 

 every ornithologist having his own peculiar views upon the relationship of 

 the diflerent forms wliich have been from time to time characterized. The 



