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ORNITHOLOGY. 



2. Family FALCONID^E.— The Falcons, Hawks, and Eaglea. 



1. Genus FALCO, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 124 (1766). 



1. Falco polyagrus, Co.S'.swi.— The American Lanier Falcon. 

 Falco polyagrus, Cassin, Birds of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 88 (1853). 

 Cassin, B. of Cal. and Tex. I, Plate XVI. 



This large falcon was described and figured by us, as above, from 

 specimens obtained in Oregon and California, by the late Dr. J. K. 

 Townsend, and by Dr. A. L. Heerinann, both distinguished as scientific 

 travellers in those countries. The collection of the Expedition contains 

 a fine specimen, which we regard as a young female of this species, and 

 is the only one, in that stage of plumage, that has yet come under our 

 notice. 



This bird is remarkable as being the only representative in America 

 of a group of falcons well known as inhabiting the Old World, and 

 which have received the designation of " Laniers." The birds of this 

 group are invariably characterized by light-colored plumage, generally 

 cinereous and white, and possess all the characters of the typical falcons. 

 The European and Asiatic species were highly valued in the art of 

 falconry. 



In a monograph of the Falconidte, in Jardine's Contributions to Orni- 

 thology (1850, p. 55), Dr. Kaup, an eminent German naturalist, pro- 

 poses the group to which this species belongs as a subgenus of the 

 typical genus Falco, under the name of Qennaia. It includes Falco 

 laidarius, Falco jugger, and other species of Europe and Asia, of which 

 this bird is the only representative, so far as known, in the continent 

 of America. 



In form and general appearance, the bird now before us singularly 

 resembles the most common Asiatic species of this group, — Falco jugger, 



