GYRFALCON. 51 



ing a central tubercle. Feet strong; tarsi rather short; toes 

 strong and considerably extended ; nails long, sharp, and curved. 

 The wings long ; the 1st primary equal in length to the 3d ; 

 the 2d longest ; the 1st and 2d have an abrupt emargination on 

 the inner web near their extremities. 



These exist wholly on living prey, and show great address in seiz- 

 ing or surprising it; pursuing birds swiftly, or povmcing directly up- 

 on them from above. They nest usually in the crevices of rocks, 

 ruins, or hollow trees. These were the species used in Fal- 

 conry, and called no6/6 because of the high prerogative of those who 

 followed this amusement. The smaller species live much on insects 

 or reptiles. In the island of Java their exists a species of this divi- 

 sion no larger than a lark. 



GYRFALCON. 



(Falco islandicus, Lathaai. Ind. Orn. v. i. p. 32. sp. GO. [the adult], 

 and Falco gyrfalco. Ibid. Ind. v. i. p. 32. sp. G6. [the young.] ) 



Spec. Charact. — Cere and round the eyes livid 3'ellow; feet yel- 

 low ; plumage white, lined and spotted with brown ; iris brown ; 

 bands of the tail 12 to 14. — Female more spotted, also banded on 

 the flanks. — Young. Upper plumage greyish-brown, with small 

 white terminal spots ; feet plumbeous, slightly inclining to yel- 

 low ; cere light bluish. 



This elegant and celebrated falcon is about 2 feet in 

 length : the female 2 or 3 inches longer. They particu- 

 larly abound in Iceland and Greenland, and are found 

 also throughout Siberia, and the North of Europe ; Mr, 

 Hutchins, according to Pennant, saw them commonly 

 about Fort Albany, at Hudson's Bay. Occasionally a 

 pair is also seen in this vicinity in the depth of winter. 

 They brave the coldest climates, for which they have 

 such a predilection as seldom to leave the arctic regions ; 

 the younger birds are commonly seen in the North of 

 Germany, but very rarely the old, which are readily dis- 



