614 



ON SOME SPECIES OF THE 



F. niger. Black Falcon, is of a deep blackish-brown. It 

 approaches nearer to the adult bird than any X)f 



proof of this fact, I may add the following extracts. BuffoNj, 

 when describing the Balbuzzard, observes, " II a les jambes 

 nues et ordinairement de couleur bleuatre; cependant il y en ai 

 quelques-uns qui ont les jambes et les pieds jaunatres." In ano- 

 ther place, he adds on the same subject, " Ce charactere est 

 done beaucoup moins fixe qu'on ne I'imaginoit," &c. C Hist. dts> 

 Ois. pp. 82. & 213.) ; and Cuvier, under the article GerfauU, 

 remarks, " Les pieds et la membrane du bee sont tantot jaunes, 

 tan tot bleus." (Regne Animal, p. 313.) 



I have beea the more circumstantial in this matter, as fome 

 ornithologists have maintained that the colour of the cere, irides, 

 and legs, is invariable in the same species ; in which case, the 

 F» nigerj as described by Brisson, could not be assigned to the 

 Peregrine Falcon. On again referring to the Synopsis Metho" 

 dica of Brisson, I feel inclined to suppose, that the individual 

 therein described under the name of F. niger, was about to ex- 

 perience a change in the colour of the legs, by which it would 

 have been even more closely allied to the Peregrine Falcon. 



In regard to the variety in question, I believe I shall be able 

 to trace in a sufficiently satisfactory manner, some important 

 changes to which it is liable, by which means I shall obviate 

 any objection which might be urged against its being considered 

 as synonimous with the Peregrine Falcon. On comparing the 

 different descriptions of the F, niger, I find that there is a 

 singular gradation in the colour of the legs, by which the fur- 

 thest removed varieties are connected by means of an inter^ 

 mediate link, with such as approach mo^t closely to the ordinary- 

 Peregrine FalcOn. 



Thus, in the account given by Buf fon of Le Faucon noir, i\ 

 is remarked, " Nous observerons que cet oiseau que nous avons 

 feu en nature, avoit le pieds d'un bleu bien decide" &c. {Hist^ 

 fiw Ois. p. 213.) Brisson, in his description of the same spe* 



