LINNEAN GENUS FALCO. 



607 



Tht fifth variety, is the bird which has been 

 described as a distinct species under the name of 

 Common Falcon ^. 



The prevailing colour of the plumage is brown, 

 edged with ferruginous. The tall is transversely 

 barred with shades of light and dark brown. The 

 bill is blue ; cere, irides and legs yellow. On 

 each cheek, a large brown "patch or spot f . 



should feel inclined to refer to the F. pj/gar'gus. Beckstein is 

 of opinion, that it is an old male of that species. 



With regard to the Grey Falcon, I may remark, that Mon- 

 tagu was informed by an experienced German falconer, that 

 it is the Tercel or male of the Ger- falcon in its first plumage. 



Beckstein seems inclined to consider it as a distinct species, 

 and thinks it is painted in the Gallery of Tenneberg at Walter- 

 hausen. 



* I must again refer to the distinction which I suppose to 

 exist between the Common Falcon usually so termed, as de- 

 scribed and characterised by many of the French and English 

 ornithologists, 9,nd in books on the art of falconry, and the in- 

 dividual whose description has been given in the works of 

 Brisso.n, Gmelin, &c. The former is undoubtedly the young 

 of the Peregrine Falcon, the latter maybe considered as synoni- 

 mous with the F. huteo of Linn. 



t The last mentioned character does not occur in Brisson. 

 This has probably induced Beckstein to adopt the opinion be- 

 fore mentioned, that the F, communis is a two year old F. huleo, 

 Cuvier describes the Common Falcon as follows : " Grand 

 cpmme une poule, se reconnait toujour s a une sorte de tache 



