214 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



In the Hudson's Ba}* country, Dr. J5ell says ; •' This species is 

 known as the Partridge, or Winter Hawk, ahhou^h it remains also 

 during the summer and breeds in the cctuiitry." 



This is one of the destructive chiss {(/), which is said to live on 

 game without compensation, and should therefore be destroyed, but 

 throughout Ontario it is not likely to ])e troublesome. 



In a letter from Mr. W. E. Brooks, of Mount Forest, dated 

 January 17th, 1894, the writer says: "A few da3^s ago, a fine Gyr- 

 falcon passed over our fowls as they were l)eing fed. It was a little 

 too high to be reached with an (irdiiiai-y charge, and, as often hap- 

 pens, there was no gun at hand, so that the chance of securing a rai'e 

 specimen was lost. ' 



Mr. Brooks is well acquainted with these birds, for he had shot 

 them during his residence in British Columbia. 



These are the only positive records of the species ha\ing l»een 

 observed in Ontario, but as they are powerful birds on the wing, and 

 much given to wandering during the winter, I have no doubt that 

 all of the forms described will yet be found along our northern fron- 

 tier. To assist in the identification of any that may be secured, I 

 shall here give Mr. Kidgway's description of the different \'arieties : 



3.54. F. HisTicoi.is (Linn. ). (Ikav (lvKK.\i.('t)N. 



Adult: — With upper ]);uts l);uiilecl with ilusky and l)hiish-gi'ay (sometimes 

 uniform dusky anteriorly): tlie tlank.s and thigli-s, Ijaned, )>amled or trans- 

 versely spotted with dusky. )'o/' //,'/.• Without transverse bars on upper parts 

 (except sometimes on tail) ; and h>wer parts, with all the markings longitudinal. 



Hab. — Extreme nortliern portions of Europe (except Scandinavia), Asia and 

 North America (including Iceland and sunthcrn Ciccnland) ; sf)iitli in winter to 

 northern border of United Status. 



.S.")4c'. !•". nisTicoi.ts (;\KK\i,i'(). 



Adult: — With anterior uppci- parts (l^ack. .scapuhu.s and wing coverts), 

 rather indistinctly l)arreil with bluish-gray, often nearly plain dusky; Hanks, 

 heavily V)anded or spotteil with dusky; and thiglis heavily l)aircd with shity 

 (the white ground color tinged witli bluisli-giay ))o.steriorly). 



H.\B. — Northern Europe and Arctic America, from northciii Lalnador and 

 coasts of Hudson's Hay to Alaska. 



354/<. F. KisTicoi.rs oiisoi.KTis. IJi.ack (In kiai.con. 

 Lower parts, with dusky prevailing, sometimes entirely dusky, except on 

 lower tail coverts, whicii are always spotted witii white. 



Hab. — Coast of l^alirador. soutii in wintci- to Maine. Canaija and N'cw Voik. 



