320 Remarks on Falco cyaneus and pygargus, 



transatlantic Ringtail a distinct species, not differing III 

 sexual plumage ? The other query is with respect to the 

 sexual distinction of the ash-coloured" Falcon of the Orn. 

 Diet, which has been considered to be most probably the 

 Northern Falcon, or Falco hy emails ; for although the male 

 of this species has only occurred to me, yet, nothing having 

 been related by any author to induce a belief that the sexes 

 are essentially different in plumage, may we not reasonably 

 conjecture that the female F. hy emails has been mistaken 

 for a F. cyaneus, and possibly occasioned some of the ac- 

 counts related, concerning the similitude in the plumage of 

 both sexes of the latter ? Indeed the F. ky emails has ge- 

 nerally been described to be considerably larger than those 

 •males which have come under my inspection, — a circum- 

 stance serving to strengthen the opinion that' the sexes are 

 similar in plumage, (the females of this tribe being always 

 the largest,) and may have been confounded with the cya- 

 neus, as was the case of the two specimens which were sent 

 to me. 



From the account here given of the Hen Harrier, it is quite 

 clear that the. change of plumage is effected in the autumn 

 after it leaves the nest ; and as it is between three and four 

 mouths in the act of moulting, it is certainly very extraor- 

 dinary that so few instances have occurred of its being killed 

 in that state which might have been decisive. That such 

 lias been taken is evident by the description at' Falco Hudso- 

 niu&oi authors, which is doubtless this bird in change of 

 plumage ; and it will be observed, that mention is made in 

 the Ornithological Dictionary of some slight indication of such 

 a change ; one had only a few gray feathers, beginning the 

 change, and another had several brown feathers in the smaller 

 coverts of the wings, which now appear to be the last that 

 are changed. 



I have now only to remark that the nest of this bird was 

 composed of sticks rudely put together, was nearly flat, and 

 placed on some fallen branches of furze that supported it just 

 above the ground. The addle egg found in the nest is little 

 inferior to that of the Moor- Buzzard, and similar in shape 

 and colour, being spotless, but cf a sullied white. 



Falco 



