LiNNEAN GENUS FALCO. 



inage of these birds, and which are found to bear 

 an exact relation to age or sex. 



No doubt, great alterations are sometimes ef-^ 

 fected by external causes, particularly by the dif-^ 

 ference in the degrees of heat and cold; Thus^ 

 the prevailing colour of the Goshawk in Kamts^ 

 chatka, is white, in Tartary brown and yellow^ 

 in Europe bltiish-black, tinged with brown, and 

 in India nearly black ; but few individuals of the 

 same species, and of similar age, either of the 

 Goshawk^ or any of its kindred species, will be 

 found to differ from each other in the same coun- 

 try, notwithstanding the general belief of the 

 great irregularity in the plumage of the tribe. 

 The different varieties of the Falcon described 

 by authors, are therefore not the effect of accident^ 

 but are referable to a particular age and sex of 

 the individual, and to the country in which it has 

 been bred. 



Most hawks, whose plunlage is barred or trans- 

 versely marked in the adult state, ^re longitudinal- 

 ly spotted while immature, and there is no in- 

 stance of any species, whose colouring on attain- 

 ing maturity, is longitudinally disposed, being 

 characterised in youth by transverse markings. 

 The barred appearance of the plumage, is a sure 

 sign of at least a considerable advance towards 

 perfection, and the want of it in any individuals 

 of a species which is known to be at any time 



