C 5°3 J 
according to the Society’s requeft, gave in what ca- 
count of it I could colled! from ornithologies, having 
never feen the bird till then ; which account was fa- 
voured with a reading before the Society. I find fi- 
gures of it in the following authors on animals ; viz. 
Bellon, Gefner, Aldrovand, Willoughby, Johnfon, 
and others ; but as their figures are fmall, and the 
later authors have only copied the more antient, and 
none of them are drawn with the corredtnefs one 
would wifh, none of them exprefling the lighter, 
darker, and fpotted parts, which are remarkable, and 
add to the beauty of a draught ; I have effayed to 
make a more perfect figure than has hitherto appeared 
in print of this bird. I have done it on a larger fcale 
than what has gone before it, which has given me 
the better opportunity of exprefling its different fhades 
and fpots, which are blended throughout its feather- 
ing, which could not have been done on a fmaller 
fcale. The defcriptions of this bird, under the va- 
rious names here given, with little variation, may be 
found, with the figures, in the feveral authors above- 
mentioned. I think the modern authors agree, that 
this bird was unknown to the antients. I am, 
S I R, 
With great refpedt. 
Your very humble fervant, 
George Edwards. 
LXIV. A 
