76. HIEROFALCO. 



413 



mottlings on the other rcctrices. Total length 20 inches, culmcu 

 1-2, wing ]4-r), tail 9, tarsus 2-1. 



Ofis. The following is submitted as an explanation of the sequence 

 of plumage in the Greenland Falcon, for further particulars and 

 figures of which see P. Z. S. 1873, p. 417: — From the stage above 

 described the yoiing bird moults and takes a white plumage, with 

 broad blackish centres to the feathers, and the stripes on the head 

 rather distinct. The breast has a few spots of black, while the tail is 

 white with black shafts and a few blackish mottlings, excepting the 

 two centre feathers, which are barred across. In this stage it is 

 figured by Mr. Gould as a supposed " dark race." In gaining the 

 fully adult plumage the markings on the dorsal feathers graduaUj 

 absorb themselves, first into a broad crescent, and then by degrees 

 into an arrow-shaped or ovate spot. The head loses its stripes and 

 the tail its mottling and bars, becoming pure white, even the shafts 

 of the latter participating in this change. There is no apparent 

 difference in the colouring of the sexes ; but the female is always 

 the larger. There appears likewise to be no regular sequence ob- 

 served by the different parts in change ; sometimes the back is 

 further advanced than the tail or breast, or, again, these may have 

 more completely taken their adult plumage than the back. In its 

 old stage the bird is figured by Mr. Gould as a " light race," the 

 hinder figure in his plate being only a trifle less aged than the one 

 in the foreground. 



Ilctb. Greenland, migrating into North-western Europe ; North 

 America. 



a. (S ad. st. 



b. 2 juv. St. 



c. 2 ad. St. 



d. $ ad. St. 



e. 2 ad. St. 

 /. 2 juv. sk. 

 ff. 2 ad. sk. 

 h. (S juv. sk. 



i. c? ad. sk. 



k. 2 ju'^' sk. 



/. 2 ad. sk. 



m. cJ juv. sk. 



m'. (S imm. st. 

 n. 2 ad. sk. 

 o. (S juv. sk. 

 p. J juv. sk. 

 q. 2 i^v. sk. 

 r. d" juv. st. 

 s. (5' JUV. St. 



Greenland. 



Greenland. 



Greenland. 



Greenland. 



Greenland. 



Greenland (Holboll). 



Greenland. 



Lichtenfels, S. Greenland, 



Dec. 5th, 1871. 

 Lichtenfels, S. Greenland, 



Octr. 11th, 1871. 

 Lichtenfels, S. Greenland, 



Sept. 16th, 1871. 

 Fiskenaesset, Greenland, 



Dec. 21st, 1872. 

 Fiskenaesset, Greenland, 



Feb. 16th, 1873. 

 Greenland. 

 Labrador. 

 Labrador. 

 Labrador. 

 N. America. 

 Repulse Bay. 

 Pembrokeshire. 



Governor Holboell [C. 

 Governor Holboell "C. 

 Governor Holboell C. 

 Governor Holboell 'C. 

 Governor Holboell C. 

 J. Gould, Esq. 

 J. Gould, Esq. 

 R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 



R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 

 R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 

 R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 

 R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 



J. Gould, Esq. 



J. Gould, Esq. 



J. Gould, Esq. 



Admiral Sir G. Back [P.]. 



J. Rae, Esq. [P.]. 



Earl of Cawdor [P]. 



