HEN HARRIER. 113 



had been observed in the relative length of the quill-fea- 

 thers : in a female the fourth quill -feather being the longest ; 

 in a male, the third. This notice is here adverted to in 

 order that the relative length of the different quill -feathers 

 in the wings, when referred to in description, or as afford- 

 ing indications of distinction in species, may not be too 

 much relied upon without having due regard to the period 

 of the year at which the birds were killed. In this 

 country particularly, a large proportion of our cabinet 

 specimens are obtained during autumn, the gun being then 

 in general use, and during which period the quill-feathers 

 will frequently be found not to have attained their ultimate 

 relative proportions. 



The vignette represents the head of the Ringtail, as 

 referred to at page 109. 



VOL. i. 



