LINNEAN GENUS JF^ALCO. 697 



such a manner as to render it impossible, in the ^; 

 belief of their being distinct, to determine to 

 which they should have been assigned, and the 

 descriptions which have been given of the Com- 

 mon Falcon, approach so near to the Peregrine in 

 one stage of its plumage, that I have no doubt it is 

 merely the young of that bird. 



Montagu was latterly inclined to this opinion, 

 and but for the scarcity of the falcon tribe in this 

 countryj and the inaccessible nature of their 

 haunts, his belief would soon have been confirm- 

 ed*. 



* Beckstein is of opinion, that the F. communis of Gm. is a 

 two year old F. buteo, the Common Buzzard of this country, aiS 

 they agree in size, form, colours, &c. It is very possible, that 

 Brisson, in whose works the numerous varieties of the Falcoii 

 Seem to have originated, may have taken his description from 

 the Common Buzzard. This is the more likely, as he certainly 

 does not mention the dark patch on the cheek of the Falcon, al- 

 though that character (which would decidedly prove it to be the 

 young of the F, peregrinus J has crept into the descnptions of 

 most of the later ornithologists. I therefore agree with that 

 naturalist, in supposing that the F. communis of Gm. is merelv 

 the F. buieo of Linn. Brisson, from whom Gmelin borrowed, 

 appears, in fact, to have taken his description from the bird 

 figured by Frisch as a Falcon, but which is in reality the Com- 

 mon Buzzard. Still, however, there can be no doubt that the 

 Common Falcon as generally characterised, both in scientific 

 works and books on falconry, if not by its external marks^ at 

 least by its habits, and acquirements in the sports of the fieW^ 

 VOL. 11. Q^q 



