REMARKS ON THE JER-FALCON, (FALCO GYBFALCO.) 



BY R. B. NASMYTH^ ESQ. 



Havixg at present in my possession a cast (couple) of Jer-Falcons,* 

 {Falco Gyrfalco,) in course of training for the purpose of Hawking, I feel 

 desirous from the perfection of the specimens, as well as the rarity of the 

 bird, to give a short description, which may perhaps prove interesting to some 

 of your readers. I may add that the descriptions which have come under my 

 notice seem to have been given from stuffed specimens. The specimens are 

 both females, and this year birds; their respective weights are three pounds 

 seven ounces and a half, and three pounds eight ounces; the length, from tip 

 of beak to the end of the tail, twenty-seven inches; across the back, seven 

 inches; length of pinion, nineteen inches. The general colour of the bird is 

 of a dull brown, most characteristic on the back, interspersed with streaks of 

 dirty white, which tip the edge of each feather of the back. The breast 

 has blotches of black occupying the centre of each feather in a pyriform shape. 

 The wings are long and pointed, the second flight feather the longest, the 

 first and third of equal length; the outer web of each feather is of a dark 

 brown, the inner of a lighter brown, with transverse bars of dirty white. The 

 tail has the dull brown colour of the back, with transverse bars of white; 

 the centre feather is the longest, the other feathers shortening towards each 

 side. The thighs and under coverts of wing and tail are of a more perfect 

 white than that on the breast, with blotches of blackish brown. The head 

 presents, at a little distance, a white appearance; the auriculars have a curious 

 edging of white. The bill is of a pale bluish horn-colour, approaching to 

 black towards the tip; the tooth on the upper mandible and the notch in the 

 lower, both very distinct; the cere, bluish white, which is also the colour of the 

 legs; the claws are black, and grooved on the inner or palmar aspect, the 

 hind one being the most powerful. They are as yet remarkably heavy on the 

 wing, but that is disappearing daily as they take longer and bolder flights. 

 Their cry is more of a croak than anything else, or something between the 

 scream of the Peregrine and the croak of the Eagle. 



Since writing the above, a friend informs me that a couple of these birds 

 were shot on the estate of the Earl of Lauderdale, some years ago, evidently 

 young birds. They used to make their appearance when the Harriers were 

 out. 



78, George-Street, Edinburgh, November, 1851. 



• All information as to their foi-mor habitat, which I have as yet been able to obtain, is not 

 to be relied on, but the party from whom I purchased them, believes them to have come from 

 Iceland. 



