64 FALCON. 



claws black : the tail is nine inches in length, the colour white 

 and brown mixed ; but whether it is forked or no, is not men- 

 tioned. Some of thefe birds have a white breaft and belly. 

 This fpecies inhabits Brafil, and is a great enemy to poultry. 



GENTIL Fal'co gentilis, Lin. Syji. i. p. 126. N° 13. 

 FALCON. Scop.Ann.i. p. 15. 



Le Faucon gentil, Brif. orn. i. p. 339. N" 5. 



Falco gentilis, i. e. nobilis diftus, Rait Syn. p. 13. N" J« 



Falcon gentle, Will. orn. p. yg.—Aliin. ii. t. 6. 



Gentil Falcon, Br. Zool. N° 50. t. zi,zz.— Am. Zool. N» 

 Lev. Muf. 



Description. 



I F we compare the fize of this bird with that of a Gofhawk, 

 it will be found to exceed it. The bill is lead-colour : cere 

 yellow : irides bright yellow : head inclining to ferruginous, 

 with oblong black fpots : the upper part of the body and the 

 wings are brown ; each feathef of the laft tipped with ferrugi- 

 nous : the quills are dufky, barred on the outer webs with black ; 

 the lower parts of the inner webs marked with white : wings 

 reach to the middle of the tail ; the tail itfelf banded * with 

 black and cinereous alternate, and tipped with white : legs 

 fhort and yellow : claws black. 



M. de Buffon f is of opinion, that this bird is the fame with 

 the common Falcon, or next fpecies, and called Gentil when 

 in full feather. — It is certain that they differ much in dif- 



* Scopoli fays, the bands are four in number. 

 + Buf. oif. vol. i. p. 25 8. 



ferent 



