BRITISH BIRDS. 
3 1 
there were as many varieties of the Falcon as of 
the Pigeon, the Hen, and other domeftic birds. In 
this way new fpecies have been introduced, and va- 
rieties multiplied without end : An over- anxious 
defire of noting all the minute differences exifling 
in this part of the works of nature has fometimes 
led the too curious inquirer into unneceffary dif- 
tin&ions, and has been the means of introducing 
confufion and irregularity into the fyftems of orni- 
thologifts. Our countryman, Latham, makes 
twelve varieties of the common Falcon, of which 
one is a young Falcon, or yearling — another is the 
Haggard, or old Falcon — whilfl others differ only 
in fome uneffential point, arillng from age, fex, or 
climate. Buffon, however, reduces the whole to 
two kinds — the Gentil, which he fuppofes to be 
the fame with the common Falcon, differing only 
in feafon; and the Peregrine, or Paffenger Falcon* 
This lafl is rarely met with in Britain, and confe- 
quently is but little known with us : It is about 
the fize of the common Falcon; its bill is blue, 
black at the point; cere and irides yellow ; the up- 
per parts of the body are elegantly marked with 
bars of blue and black; the break: is of a yel- 
lowifh white, marked with a few fmall dufky lines ; 
the belly, thighs, and vent of a greyifh white, 
croffed with dufky bands ; the quills are dufky, 
fpotted with white ; the tail is finely barred with 
blue and black ; the legs are yellow ; the. claws 
black* 
