GYR-FALCON. 27 



Of the true Falcons wliich the British Islands produce, 

 the Gyr-Falcon may be considered one of the most typical 

 in form, as it is the largest in size. It is an inhabitant of 

 Europe and North America, seldom appearing south of the 

 52° of latitude, or north of 74°. It is not, however, very 

 numerous anywhere ; and from its great courage and strength 

 large sums were formerly expended in procuring specimens 

 from Iceland and Norway, for various potentates of Europe 

 who were then devoted to falconry. Those specimens ob- 

 tained from Iceland were called exclusively Iceland Falcons; 

 and from peculiarities observed in their disposition, as well 

 as in their mode of flying at their game, not only commanded 

 the highest prices, but they were, and are even now, con- 

 sidered by falconers as a species distinct from the GjT-Fal- 

 con. " They say that these two Falcons differ in the com- 

 parative length of their Avings in reference to the tail ; the 

 Iceland Falcon is, to them, a much more valuable, as well 

 as a much more rare species ; that they require a different 

 system of training, as well as of general management. They 

 describe the Iceland Falcon as a bird of higher courage than 

 the Gyr-Falcon ; of a more rapid and bolder flight ; and that 

 it can be flown successfully at larger game. Its gyrations 

 are said to be wider, its mount higher, and its stoop to the 

 quarry more impetuous, grand, and imposing. Naturalists 

 in general, however, believe that all the differences to be 

 observed between the Iceland and the Gyr-Falcon may be 

 referred to age or sex." 



The specimen from which Mr. Bewick took his represen- 

 tation of the Gyr-Falcon is now in good condition in the 

 Museum of Natural History at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, al- 

 though it must have been preserved more than fifty years. 

 This bird was given at that time to Mr. Tunstall by the 

 then Lord Orford, of sporting notoriety, who had used it for 



