236 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



larger, though it is but just to say that it is a female ; the wing measures 

 13.25, instead of 12.50, and the middle toe, 2.00, instead of 1.85. No. 

 37,336, Tres Marias Islands, Western Mexico, — ■ a young male in second 

 year, — has the wing just the same length as in the smallest North American 

 example, while in plumage it is precisely similar to 26,785, of the same age, 

 from Jamaica. No. 4,367, from Puget's Sound, Washington Territory, — also 

 a young male, ■ — has the wing of the same length as in the largest northern 

 specimen, while the plumage is as usual.' 



Two adult females from Connecticut (Nos. 28,099 and 32,507, Talcott Mt.) 

 are remarkable for their very deep colors, in which they differ from all other 

 Nortli American examples wliich I liave seen, and answer in every particular 

 to the description of F. cassini, Sharpe, above cited. The upper surface is 

 plumbeous-black, becoming deep black anteriorly, the head without a single 

 liglit feather in the black portions ; the plumbeous bars are distinct only on 

 the rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, and are just perceptible on tlie secon- 

 daries. The lower parts are of a very deep reddish-ochraceous, deepest on the 

 breast and abdomen, where it approaches a cinnamon tint, — the markings, 

 however, as in other examples. They measure, wing, 14.75 ; tail, 7.50 ; cul- 

 nien, 1.05 - 1.15 ; tarsus, 2.00 ; middle toe, 2.30. They were obtained from 

 the nest, and kept in confinement three years, when they were sacrificed to 

 science. The unusual size of the bill of these specimens (see measurements) 

 is undoubtedly due to the influence of confinement, or the result of a modi- 

 fied mode of feeding. The specimens were presented by Dr. S. S. Moses, of 

 Hartford. 



An adult male (No. 8,501) from Shoal-water Bay, Washington Territory, 

 is exactly of the size of the male described. In tliis specimen there is not 

 the slightest creamy tinge beneatli, while the bkie tinge on the lower parts 

 laterally and posteriorly is very strong. No. 52,818, an adult female from 

 Mazatlan, Western Mexico, has the wing tliree quarters of an inch shorter 

 than in the largest of four northern females, and of the same length as in the 

 smallest ; there is nothing unusual about its plumage, except that the bars 

 beneatli are sparse, and the ochraceous tinge quite deep. No. 27,057, Fort 

 Good Hope, H. B. T., is, however, exactly similar, in these respects, and the 

 wing is but half an inch longer. In No. 47,588, c? ,l"i"om the Farallones Islands, 

 near San Francisco, California, the wing is the same length as in the average 

 of northern and eastern specimens, while the streaks on the jugulum are 

 nearly as conspicuous as in a male from Europe. 



In conclusion, I would say that the sole distinguishing character between 

 the Peregrines from America and those from Europe, that can be relied or,, 

 appears to be found in the markings on the breast in the adult plumage ; 

 in all the specimens and figures of var. communis that I have seen, the 

 breast has the longitudinal dashes very conspicuous ; while, as a general 

 rule, in anatum these markings are entirely absent, though sometimes 

 present, and occasionally nearly as distinct as in European examples. There- 



