1 1 Iceland and Ger Falcons. 



memory of a falconer yet living, of the male Icelander striking 

 the head from the neck of a heron, by a single blow in the 

 air. 



At the period when Iceland falcons were annually obtained 

 from Iceland, many falconers were in the yearly habit of 

 sending persons to Norway and Sweden to catch ger falcons, 

 of which kind they generally obtained a good supply : they 

 had, therefore, abundant means of becoming acquainted with 

 the two species. They have frequently flown individuals of 

 both kinds, six, eight, or more years, so that every change of 

 plumage might be well ascertained. The peregrine falcons, 

 bred on the rocks of Scotland, do not differ, in habit, size, or 

 plumage, from those reared on the shores of Norway. I 

 think it very probable that the Iceland falcon will hereafter 

 be found to inhabit the northern parts of the American con- 

 tinent, and will be recognised as a distinct species from the 

 ger falcon of-EdrofWfcimain I .1 / Jo 7 lo ,£S .q bim e .V ,lo7 



By the decline of hawking we lose much in the history of 

 tfeife class affohrds. WithdiOwSma^yaBte^^fiir^f^^slkyd fmed- 

 dotes might we become -acquainted* wgi^th^sppptaihifl^fjjenei- 

 rally followed ! I certainly must consider some deference due 

 to the opinions of men whose almost sole attention has been 

 devoted to hawks from their childhood. All the falconers 

 whom I have questioned on the subject have decidedly given 

 the same opinion, and have, at once, clearly pointed out the 

 identity of the merlin and stone falcon (Falco ^2Tsalon and 

 Lithofalco), also of the peregrine falcon and lanner (F. pere- 

 grinus and lanarius), as commonly described by authors; at 

 the same time showing themselves acquainted with the true 

 lanner, which is described by Temminck in his Manuel rf'Or- 

 nithologie. It was also called by falconers the Sacre and Bloyt, 

 and was not frequently used, being found only in the south 

 and south-eastern parts of Europe. The king of France, 

 Louis XVI., had lanners sent annually from Malta, but they 

 were brought from the Eastern countries. It exceeds the 

 peregrine falcon in size, being intermediate between that and 

 the ger falcon ; was much esteemed for flying the kite, with 

 which the peregrine is hardly able to contend. >8 r fiQ}dt>iiQ 



Having thus stated my reasons for considering the Ice- 

 lander distinct from the ger falcon, and assuring you that I 

 must have stronger evidence than I have yet had, to shake 

 my opinion on the subject,' t//^ .i.l/. II luolooeid 9gruub ot 

 vibj'fiKi^ zi-Amoi 'iuof 9'tu* I am, Sir, yours, &c;iqz9 



Stoke Nayland, Suffolk^ < SflOfl i>m$ t \6^\t)Ai bs&sBj/HoiL 

 Jud y j Sept. 25. 1832. (o ub had *J9V9n sari odw* ^laz^m 9>hl 



n\ ggodj bnjj ? 8979 to imq 9«o 



