4 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



with blackish, not uniform as in true F. gyrfalco. The throat 

 and chest are white, with a few dark stripes on the latter. 



It is a resident bird in Iceland, and only occurs in Great Britain 

 as an accidental visitor, but it has been met with in all three 

 kingdoms. Very little has been recorded of its nidification, but 

 the evidence tends to prove that the species nests on the rocks, 

 building a nest very much like that of a Raven, or probably 

 utilising an old nest of the latter species. The eggs are four in 

 number, similar to those of the Jer-Falcon, as will be seen by the 

 figures in the plates. 



THE GREENLAND JER-FALCON. 



(Falco candicans.)* 



Plate 1, Fig. 2. 



The Greenland Falcon may always be recognised by its yellow 

 bill, irrespective of its plumage and markings. The true Jer- 

 Falcons have all blue bills, and the markings on their flanks are 

 transverse, not longitudinal. There are several other characters, 

 especially in the markings of the tail, as Sharpe has pointed out. 



In Greenland the breeding-season of the Jer-Falcon is in June. 

 The nests are sometimes placed on the loftiest cliffs, either near 

 the sea or further inland, and sometimes on the tops of pines and 

 other trees. It is only an accidental visitor to England, but is 

 perhaps the form of Jer-Falcon which most commonly visits us. 



The eggs of all the Jer-Falcons are so similar to each other that 

 any separate description of them is impossible. 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 

 (Falco peregrinus.) 



Plate 3, Fig. 1. 



The Peregrine Falcon is undoubtedly the commonest of the 

 larger birds of prey now found in the British Islands. It breeds 

 on inland cliffs in many parts of England as well as on the sea- 

 shore, but still more often in Scotland and Ireland. It is found 

 throughout Europe and Asia, and also in North America. Its 



* Falco candicans — Saunders, Manual, p. 331 (1889). Hicro/alco candicans — Sharpe, 

 Handb. Brit. B., II., p. 191 (1895). 



