GREY FALCON. 
113 
altogether wanting on the under tail-covers. The 
quills, externally, are entirely black ; but, upon look- 
ing to their under surface, it will be seen that this 
inner web has numerous white bars for about two- 
thirds their length from the base : of these there are 
about fourteen on the first quill, those nearest the 
tip being very distinctly marked, but the rest be- 
coming gradually less defined towards the base. 
The tail exceeds the length of the wings by about 
two inches and a half ; its form is much rounded, 
the outer feather being more than an inch shorter 
than the middle ones ; its upper surface, when not 
expanded, is of the same uniform grey as the back, 
with some obscure whitish bands on the outer webs 
of the lateral feathers : but when the tail is spread, 
the four lateral feathers on each side are seen to be 
thickly banded with white, precisely like the quills 
of the wings, the middle feathers being almost free 
from these markings ; the shafts of all are of a deep 
and glossy black, thus preserving a uniformity with 
the rest of the plumage : the bands on the tail- 
feathers are so crowded, that sixteen may be counted 
on the outermost feather. Orbits, cere, and feet, 
bright-yellow ; claws, black ; ' bill, blueish. The 
general form of this bird is somewhat thicker than 
that of the last ; the bill is larger and the wings 
shorter, since they reach only to about half the 
length of the tail. The black whiskers, so universal 
in this division, are short, although very distinct. 
The whole structure of the bird, however, is that of 
a typical Falcon. 
H 
