FA.LCONID.E. 57 



65°, where none of the mature birds were seen. They differ widely in appearance 

 from the five old birds. 



For the advantage of reference in the subjoined remarks, the specimens are 

 numbered in the following- list : — ■ 



1. A mature male, killed at the nest, near Carlton, May 19. This specimen 



much resembles the figure in Bonap., Orn., ii., p. 30, pi. 12. 



2. The female companion to the above. The oviduct contained two full-sized 



eggs, and there were three in the nest. 



3. A mature male, killed at Carlton, in May. 



4. A mature female, killed at Carlton, in June. 



5. A mature male, killed at Cumberland House, lat. 54°, in May. 



6. 7. Young males, killed at Bear Lake, in May, soon after the first arrival 



of the migratory birds, and therefore at least ten months old. 

 8. Young bird, supposed to be a female, killed, in September, at the same 

 place. This may be a yearling. 



These eight specimens being submitted to Mr. Yarrell's inspection, he pronounced 

 them to be examples of F. cyaneus in various stages. A specimen of a young 

 bird was also obtained, on the first Expedition, at York Factory, and is noticed 

 by Mr. Sabine, in the Appendix to the Narrative of the Expedition, under the 

 name of Falco uliginosus. — R. 



The relative proportions of the quill feathers, by which our accurate countryman, 

 Montagu, detected the difference between the European Circus cyaneus and cine- 

 raceus, is, perhaps, one of the best distinctions characterizing these species. It 

 still, however, remains to be ascertained whether all those Harriers found in Asia, 

 Africa, America, and Australia, agreeing with cyaneus in the structure of their 

 wings, are to be considered the same species ; or, rather, may we not suspect 

 that a more intimate knowledge of the birds from such distant localities will ac- 

 quaint us with specific distinctions ? The relative lengths of the quill feathers 

 exercise, as is well known, a powerful influence on the mode and velocity of 

 flight, and has been successfully employed to designate natural groups. But in 

 species standing at the confines of their type, this character, in common with all 

 others, must be looked upon cautiously, even when employed as a specific distinc- 

 tion. Now, the typical structure of the wing in the present group must unques- 

 tionably be that most prevalent among the species. It must, however, be remem- 

 bered, that even this character is subject to variation, according to the age and 

 perhaps the locality of the bird, and that it must not be insisted upon with too 

 much rigour. i 



