4321 OBSEHV^ATlO^^S ON THE IDENTITY OF 
the two supposed species constitute in reality but one, or 
that the young of two distinct species, at first precisely 
similar in colour, appearance, and manners, differ in this 
respect, that, in the one, the white caudal band gradually 
gives place to a different arrangement of colours, — while, 
in the other, it remains permanent and unaltered. No 
direct evidence, however, has, to my knowledge, been ad- 
vanced, to shew that this white ring is ever permanent ; on 
the contrary, every experiment hitherto instituted or made^ 
with living birds, proves that a gradual change is effected. 
Ought we then to permit, the mere assertion of Pennant, 
or other writers, without a statement of the facts upon 
v/hich such assertion is founded, to outweigh evidence so 
conclusive as that now advanced? That the Ring-tailed 
Eagle should appear to be more numerous in Britain than 
the Golden Eagle, as Mr Wilson asserts, and I believe to 
be the case, cannot be a matter of surprise, if we consider 
the number of young annually produced, and the period 
that elapses before maturity is attained, and that during 
the slow progress to this state, or at least for the space of 
two years, it may, by superficial observers, or where an 
opportunity of close examination is not allowed, be con- 
sidered as a bird of the ring-tailed species. We also find 
that young animals are seldom so wary or attentive to their 
own preservation as adults, and are therefore more liable 
to be shot or otherwise destroyed, and thus more frequently 
come under examination^ than those which, with age and 
maturity, have acquired a superior degree of inteUigence 
and cunning. Young birds (particularly of the genus 
Falco) are also generally driven from the place of their 
birth by their parents, when fully fledged, and able to 
provide for themselves ; and to this cause, I imagine, must 
be attributed the wider and more general dissemination of 
the Ring- tailed, compared with its parent the Goldeu 
Eagle. 
