48 Review of the new Continuation 



In modern times the claims to distinction of the third race — tliat 

 of Norway, which is clearly the bird referred to as Falco gyrfalco 

 by Linnseus and Gmelinj in the quotations we have cited, and to 

 which alone the English name Gyrfalcon of right belongs — seem 

 to have been first brought forward by the late Mr. Hoy. That 

 gentleman, in 1833, published a paper on the subject, which has 

 hardly obtained from naturalists the attention it deserves ; for 

 though the question has since been treated at great length by 

 other highly distinguished authors, his remarks, in our opinion, 

 are as a whole most judicious, and characterized by remarkable 

 perspicuity. We hope we may be excused for here reproducing 

 an extract from them, but we must refer those who are really 

 interested in the matter to the original article *. Mr. Hoy 

 ('Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist.' vi. p. 108) writes as follows : — 



" The Iceland falcon rather exceeds the Gerfalcon of Norway in 

 size ; the tail is considerably shorter ; the wings are, in proportion, 

 longer, the relative length of the wing and tail being much the 

 same as in the Peregrine falcon : the young of both species are 

 much alike in their first plumage, but the Icelander is generally 

 of a lighter cast ; * * * The head 



of the Icelander is larger, different blocks being used in making 

 the hoods of the two kinds. The Gerfalcon, the male of which, in 

 falconry, is called the Gerkiu, differs in being less ; in having a 

 longerf tail, and shorter wing, in proportion, the wings, when 

 closed, reaching but little more than half the length of the tail ; 

 the plumage does not become so white as in the Icelander." 



This bird, the true Gyrfalcon, which in the times of our an- 

 cestors was so commonly employed to capture the Crane, the 

 Wild Goose, and the Bustard, has of late years been very rarely 

 brought alive to this country ; but in the palmy days of the Loo 

 Hawking Club several examples were at different times retained 

 by its members, and from these we believe Mr. Hoy's as well as 



* We must, however, caution our readers that Mr. Hoy was of tlie 

 opinion which, prior to Mr. Hancock's discovery, almost entirely prevailed, 

 that the large Falcon of Norway, like the Icelander, grew white by age. 



t By a clerical error in a former article ('Ibis,' 1859, p. 85) a " short tail " 

 is spoken of as being a characteristic of the Gyrfalcon. We should 

 have said exactly the contrary. 



