108 Probable specific Distinction 



have been induced to differ from authors in opinion, and will 

 endeavour briefly to state my reasons for so doing. 



I believe that no person who has described them has had 

 the means of observing the habits of the two birds in a state 

 of liberty : some may have seen the ger falcon of northern 

 Europe, but may not have had the opportunity of becoming 

 acquainted with the Iceland falcon. It appears to me that 

 naturalists have formed their opinion on this subject from 

 the examination of preserved specimens, or, at most, from 

 birds in a state of confinement. I have had repeated oppor- 

 tunities of obtaining the opinion of several eminent falconers 

 of the old school, who have invariably stoutly maintained the 

 two birds to be perfectly distinct kinds. 



The Iceland falcon rather exceeds the ger falcon of Norway 

 in size, the tail is considerably shorter, the wings are, in pro- 

 portion, longer, the relative length of wing and tail being 

 much the same as in the peregrine falcon : the young of both 

 species are much alike in their first plumage, but the Ice- 

 lander is generally of a lighter cast ; the old birds become 

 nearly white on the head, neck, breast, and thighs, some 

 birds have been known almost entirely of a white colour : the 

 legs and talons are of a bluish colour, and larger than in the 

 ger falcon. The head of the Icelander is larger, different 

 blocks being used in making the hoods of the two kinds. 

 The ger falcon, the male of which, in falconry, is called the 

 gerkin, differs, in being less, in having a longer tail, and 

 shorter wing, in proportion ; the wings, when closed, reaching 

 but little more than half the length of the tail : the plumage 

 does not become so white as in the Icelander. 



But we must not form our opinion from trifling variations 

 of size or plumage, as we know that hawks of the same 

 species vary greatly in both, but from the habits of the birds. 

 How could we distinguish several species, which we well know 

 to be distinct kinds, were it not for the voice and habits ? and 

 why may not the connecting link approach as nearly in the 

 hawks as in some other genera ? Late discoveries show that 

 individuals of this class are met with extremely similar in 

 outward appearance. The goshawk of North America, 

 although but slightly varying in size and plumage from our 

 European species, appears now to be considered a distinct 

 kind by some, while others have doubts as to their identity. 



In the days when falconry stood first on the list of sports 

 (and I cannot here help regretting, that, in this land of sport- 

 ing celebrity, this favourite amusement of our ancestors should 

 be so universally neglected), the Icelander was considered a 

 present worthy the acceptance of a king. The king of Den- 



