8 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



FALCOmDM.— FALCONS. 



In contemplating- the diurnal birds of pre?/, arranged by Linneeus under the 

 genus Falco, we can be at no loss to discover the two typical forms in the Toothed- 

 billed Falcons and the Sparrow-hawks. Their peculiarities did not escape the 

 notice even of the earliest systematic writers, and the moderns have only confirmed 

 the justness of the distinction. But, with regard to the remaining groups, much 

 diversity of opinion still exists ; not, indeed, as regards the leading divisions, for 

 here likewise the ancients had long ago anticipated our distinctions between the 

 Eagles, Kites, and Buzzards. It is not, therefore, to these groups, taken per se, 

 that any doubts can attach on their respective peculiarities, but rather as to 

 their relative rank with those that are considered typical. These doubts can only 

 be solved by analysis. Were our national or public museums sufficiently rich in 

 species of this family, to allow of this being done, we might hope to gain just 

 conceptions of nature ; but such materials are not at present within the reach of 

 our ornithologists. Indeed, so lamentably deficient are our sources of information 

 on this head, " that, of near three hundred described species, not a sixth part is 

 to be consulted in the national repository, of this kingdom *." In such a state 

 of things, it is obvious that all attempts to characterize the minor types of 

 form, or to detect the true series of natural affinities, must be viewed with great 

 caution, and lie open to much objection, particularly when opposed to other 

 opinions, founded upon an intimate acquaintance with forms, not in our museums. 

 But if our ideas on the characters and value of the different groups, and on their 

 natural combinations, are, from necessity, so imperfect, still more hazardous is it 

 to attempt the location of species from the mere descriptions and figures to be 

 found in books. We may, indeed, make some approximation to truth, by thus 

 bringing together species which, in many cases, are obviously allied ; but the 

 situation of by far the greater portion must be problematical : and, unless we dis- 

 tinctly state how far we have been guided by actual examination, and how far by 

 mere supposition, the reader who wishes to know upon what points he may place 

 reliance, and upon what he may safely doubt, is left completely in the dark. 



It is from an attentive consideration of these difficulties, that we have been 



* Zool. Journ., i., p. 311. 



