114 



JER FALCON. 



the young of the year, the colour* is mostly 

 of a dull brown, little white being at all visible. 

 As they grow in age, the white increases, the dark 

 parts of the feathers narrowing to a central blotch ; 

 and in the mature birds white becomes the pre- 

 dominating colour : some birds are nearly white 

 altogether, but, as hinted at by Dr Richardson, 

 this state may be a variation only sometimes 

 occurring, specimens in this plumage being cer 

 tainly rare. Our next species is 



* Richardson, No. 2, c. 29. 



