73 
PROVINCIAL. 
DOVE-COLOURED FALCON, BLUE 
HAWK. 
Various are the opinions concerning this 
bird. Some authors have ever considered 
the Hen-harrier and Ring-tail as the male 
and female of the same species ; others that 
they are distinct. In a country where these 
birds are not uncommon, and where they 
continue the whole year, it is extraordinary 
that it has remained so long doubtful. 
Mr. Pennant imagined that the long-dis- 
puted point had at length been determined 
by the criterion of dissection ; a Ring-tail 
having, on examination, proved to be a male 
bird. It appears, however, from the unde- 
niable testimony of the most accurate ob- 
servers and experienced sportsmen, that the 
above assertion of Mr. P. though true as far 
as it goes, is by no means conclusive and 
complete. This, which appears at first to be 
highly paradoxical, is explained by observ* 
ing, that the young male (a^ is the case with 
the Kestril also) is so like the female as not 
K 
I 
