LINNEAN GENUS FALCO. 



589 



la some authors, we find the Falcon Gentle de- ^' gentiiij, 

 scribed as somewhat larger than the Goshawk. 

 Its bill of a lead colour. Cere and irides yellow. 

 The head and upper part of the neck rusty, streak- 

 ed with black. The back and wings brown ; 

 scapulars tipped with rusty ; quill-feathers dusky, 

 outer webs barred with black ; the lower part of 

 the inner webs marked with white. Tail long, 

 and marked with alternate bars of black and ash 

 colour, and tipped with white. The legs yellow ; 

 claws black. The wings extend exactly to the tip 

 of the tail, 



I consider this bird as one of the numerous va- 

 rieties of the Common Falcon, as it agrees with 

 that species in its early plumage. It is well dis- 

 tinguished from every modification of the Gos- 

 hawk by the length of the wings. 



Other author^ have described the Gentle Fal- 

 con in a somewhat different manner, viz. Bill, cere, 

 and irides, as in the former. Head inclining to 

 ferruginous, with oblong black spots ; upper part 

 of the body and wings brown ; each feather of 

 the last tipped with ferruginous. The whole 

 under sides yellowish-white, the points of each 

 feather marked with heart-shaped spots ; coverts 

 of the wings and scapulars, brown, edged with 

 rust colour. Tail barred with black and cinereous 

 alternately. Legs yellow ; claws black. The « 

 wings extend only half the length of the tail. 



