FALCON. 25 



fite number of years ; and till this is done, the fadt may be by 

 fame flill held in doubt. 



One thing however fliould not efcape notice, which is, that no 

 author, which has fallen under my obfervation, mentions the Hen- 

 harrier as a bird of the American continent, or ifles adjacent, 

 though the Ringtail and its varieties are common throughout. 

 That the ferruginous brown colour may not change, in the warmer 

 climates, as Carolina^ and parts more fouthward, as Jamaica, 8scc. 

 is not furprifing j but towards the north, as at Hudfon's Bay, where 

 it is frequently feen in other birds, appears fingular. Let this 

 be confidered, and reafons given why fuch change fhould happen 

 in Great- Britain, and various parts of the old continent, and not 

 in the new ; for my part I know of none. 



The reader will, it is to be hoped, pardon this long digreffion, 

 as it is meant to clear up a point hitherto held in controverfy. The 

 above hints may urge others to make further obfervations, in 

 order to obtain a certainty in this ; and may at the fame time 

 lead us to difcriminate other birds, fuppofed of different fpecies, 

 perhaps proving, on a more intimate acquaintance, to be merely 

 owing to oppofition of fex. 



Keftril, Gen. Syit. i. p. 94. N° 79. — J>-<^. Zool. ii. p. 226. M. 79, 



Falco tinnunculus, Brun. N" 4, 5. — Mailer, N"65. — Faun. Arag. N°4. *** KESTRIL F. 



'T'HIS fpecies is not uncommon in many parts of the continent 

 of Europe. The female faid to lay four eggs *, of a pale fer- 

 ruginous colour, marked with many irregular fpots of a deeper 

 hue f . 



* Hijl. de Lyon, i. p. 207. \ Portland Muf. 



SUPPL. E Red- 



