107 
pendent of the great difference in the tail,) 
at once point out the distinction from the 
the male Hen Harrier. In the female, the 
uniform ferruginous colour of all the under 
parts is sufficient to discriminate it from the 
female Hen Harrier, besides the colours be- 
ing much brighter ; and in the adolescent or 
changing state of the plumage, the same dif- 
ference exists in the markings. 
That this bird has been long known, and 
confounded with the Hen Harrier, there can 
be no doubt, a proof of which is evident by 
the description of what Mr. Pennant sup- 
posed a variety of the Ring Tail. In descri- 
bing that bird, " the breast and belly, (says 
Mr. Pennant) are of a yellowish brown, with 
a cast of red, and marked with oblong dusky 
spots, but they are subject to vary, for we 
have met with one specimen that had these 
parts entirely plain." 
Mr. Montagu observes, that except this 
remark of Mr. Pennant, we do not find any 
description that sufficiently accords with 
either sex of our Ash-coloured Falcon to re- 
fer to with confidence. 
Graves informs us that a pair of these birds 
o 2 
