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species have been introduced, and varieties 
multiplied without end. This has arisen 
from an over-anxious desire of noting all the 
minute differences existing in this part of the 
works of nature, and has led the too curious 
enquirer into unnecessary distinctions, and 
been the means of introducing confusion and 
irregularity into the systems of ornithologists. 
Upon the authority of J. D. Downes, Esq. 
(a gentleman well known in this and other 
counties for his knowledge in Falconry, and 
to whom we are indebted for the revival of 
that grand and noble diversion), we are 
enabled to state, that the Falcon, Falcon 
Gentil, Slight Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, 
and the Haggard Falcon, are of the same 
species, and are the Falco Gentilis of Lin- 
naeus, differing in age, or circumstances of 
caption only. 
The insufficiency of the specific distinc- 
tion of this species given by Linnaeus, has no 
doubt occasioned considerable errors, as nei- 
ther the colour of the cere and feet, nor of 
the plumage, are constant. In some speci- 
mens the cere and feet are yellow, in others 
blue; some have a blueish and others a 
