LINNEAN GENUS FALCO. 



I am informed by M. Stettler of Berne, keeper f. apivoruft 

 of the Spninglian Cabinet, that it is ascertained ^-a^^ij^^^- 



, . F. vaviega- 



beyond the possibility of doubt, that the Honey tus. 

 Buzzard, (Falco apivorus, Linn.) and the Whitish 

 Buzzard, the Falco albidus of Gmelin's System, 

 (p. 267. No. 790 ^^'^ same species ; the for- 

 mer being the female, the latter the male. 



Though the plumage differs greatly, yet the ge- 

 neral figure of the birds, the form of the bill, 

 shape of the head, and other unvarying charac- 

 teristics, are in favour of the truth of this opinion. 

 One objection, however, immediately occurred to 

 me, which was, that though the F, apivoriis is not 

 uncommon, no individual resembling the Falco 

 albidus had ever been seen in Britain. This I 

 mentioned to some of the Swiss ornithologists, 

 and they were as unable as myself to reconcile 

 such a seeming contradiction. But as the fact of 

 their being actually the same species, has been 

 proved by the only perfectly conclusive method, 

 that of rearing the young birds, nothing more 

 could be objected. Nor in truth, on considera- 

 tion, does the objection hold good. 



If these observations are correct, our Sea Eagle, and the Lesser White-tail' 

 ed Eagle of Latham, ( F. albicaudus Gm.) should in future be considered ag 

 synonimous with the White-tailed or Cinereous Eagle of English ornitho- 

 logists, and the specific name of albicilla should be retained as applicable toi 

 iks species in its adult state. 



