608 



ON SOME SPECIES OF THE 



Common This bird has Ions: been considered as the type 



Faleon. . ^ , . 



or proper representative oi the numerous varie- 

 ties of the Falcon. That it is merely the Pere- 

 grine Falcon In a state of immaturity, I have al- 

 ready attempted to prove, and I am convinced 

 that no doubt can be entertained on the subject 

 by any person who takes the trouble of comparing 

 the varieties * which follow with those which 

 have been enumerated f. 



triangiilaire noire qu'il a sur la joue," &c. If the above de- 

 scription could be relied upon as uniformly applicable to the 

 Common Falcon in every state of plumage, it might be ad- 

 duced as a strong proof of the accuracy of Beckstein's opi- 

 nion regarding the F. communis of Gm. and would induce me 

 to refer the F. fuscus to the Common Buzzard. I have, how- 

 ever, seen a specimen of falcon which I have no doubt was the 

 female of F. communis ^ (the F. peregrinus in a state of imma- 

 turity), on which the black patch had not become perceptible. 



* It will be observed, that I have altered the order in which 

 the varieties I am now considering have hitherto been placed. 

 This is necessary, in order to illustrate more clearly the opinion I 

 am anxious to establish, and to exhibit at one view the gradual 

 transition from the state of immaturity to the plumage of the 

 adult bird. 



t In Cuvier's new work, published since this paper was 

 written, I find that his opinion is similar to the one expressed 

 above. I cannot, however, see the propriety of retaining the 



