214 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



In the Hudson's Bay country, Dr. Bell says : " This species is 

 known as the Partridge, or Winter Hawk, although it remains also 

 during the summer and breeds in the country." 



This is one of the destructive class [d), which is said to live on 

 game without compensation, and should therefore be destroyed, but 

 throughout Ontario it is not likely to be troublesome. 



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

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

 falcon passed over our fowls as they were being fed. It was a little 

 too high to be reached with an ordinary charge, and, as often hap- 

 pens, there was no gun at hand, so that the chance of securing a rare 

 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 having been 

 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. Ridgway's description of the different varieties : 



3,j4r. F. RUSTicoLUs (Linn.). (tRay Gyrfalcon. 



Adult: — With upper parts Imudeil with dusky and bluish-gray (sometimes 

 uniform dusky anteriorly) ; the flanks and thighs, barred, banded or trans- 

 versely spotted with dusky. Yoinuj : — Without transverse bars on upper parts 

 (except sometimes on tail) ; and lower jmrts, with all the markings longitudinal. 



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

 North America (including Iceland and southern (irreenland) ; south in winter to 

 northern Ijorder of United .States. 



3o4n.. F. RUSTICOLUS (;yrfalc(). 



Adult: — With anterior upper parts (back, scapulars and wing coverts), 

 rather indistinctly liarred with bluish-gray, often nearly plain dusky ; flanks, 

 •heavily banded or spotted with dusky; and thighs heavily barred with slaty 

 (the white ground color tinged with l)luish-gray posteriorly). 



Hab. — Northern Europe and Arctic America, from northern Lal>rador and 

 coasts of Hudson's Bay to Alaska. 



3546. F. RUSTICOLUS obsoletus. Black (Gyrfalcon. 

 Lower parts, with dusky pi'evailing, sometimes entii-ely duskj-, except on 

 lower tail coverts, which are always spotted with white. 



Hab. — Coast of Labrador, south in winter to Maine, Canada and New York.. 



