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Message: <blockquote data-quote="l_raty" data-source="post: 1663594" data-attributes="member: 24811">Yes, I agree that the watercolor changes the perspective significantly.Still not fully convinced that what is barred on the illustration really includes the undertail, though. It could very well simply be the tail proper (which of course is barred in many raptors - including <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NufFNYTJr-8/SXtKnbEwJ6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/nM07X4I0v2I/s400/JuvyYellowHeadedCaracara.jpg" target="_blank">caracaras</a>).But this could quite easily be a harrier, indeed.When he introduced Polyborus vulgaris, Vieillot also alluded to the presence of the species 'en nature au Jardin du Roi'--and if it was there, he undoubtedly had seen it himself. This would automatically make the specimen(s) from the Jardin du Roi parts of the type series. Thus the bird illustrated here: <a href="http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b21000500.item.f7" target="_blank">http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b21000500.item.f7</a> might in fact quite easily be a syntype...</blockquote>