242 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



This appears to be the only known New England example 

 of this form. Mr. Boardman had at least two examples but 

 both were taken on Canadian soil. When the real truth is 

 known regarding these puzzling birds it seems very likely that 

 only two forms will be recognized, F. rnsticohis and F. rusti- 

 colus obsoletus. This latter indeed, admitting that its range 

 is correctly delimited, seems the only form having a satisfac- 

 torily distinct range, and it seems extremely probable that the 

 other recognized forms are mere plumage phases, due to indi- 

 viduality or age and to which the name F. rusti^olns must 

 apply. The food and nesting habits, eggs and other characters 

 do not differ greatly from those of the White Gyrfalcon. 



354a. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (Linn.). Gyrfalcon. 



Plumage : " Generally similar to F. rusticolus, but darker colored, especially 

 above ; the top of the head with dusky prevailing, often uniformly dusky ; 

 the lighter tail bands bluish gray (never conspicuously white), and usually 

 narrower than the dusky interspaces, often interrupted and inconspicuous ; 

 remaining upper parts dusky, often nearly uniform, but usually more or less 

 diversified with paler ; lower parts with white prevailing, or at least equalling 

 the dusky marking in extent." (Brewster, Land and Game Birds N. E. p. 

 479). Measurements like preceding. 



Geog. Dist. — Northern Europe, Greenland, and Arctic America, from 

 northern Labrador and Hudson Bay to Alaska ; rarely in winter to Maine, 

 Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 



County Records. — Cumberland ; one killed at North Deering December 11, 



1906, (Norton, J. M. 0. S. 1907, p. 18) ; one taken at Jacques Island, March 7, 



1907, a female, (H. H. Brock). Piscataquis; one taken at Ktaadn Iron 

 Works in December, 1876, is in the museum of Brown University, (Purdie, 

 B. N. 0. C. 4, p. 188, and Brewster, Land and Game Birds of N. E. p. 479). 



Another specimen known to have been taken in Maine, but without 

 locality given, is in the collection of Prof. A. L. Lane of Waterville. (J. M. 

 0. S. 1899, p. 1). 



In habits, nesting, eggs, etc., this species does not differ from 



the Iceland Gyrfalcon. They are said to usually nest on cliffs 



but sometimes in trees. The North Deering specimen recorded 



walked into a hen yard and killed a large rooster. The Ktaadn 



Iron Works specimen was caught in the arms of a man as it 



emerged from beneath a barn where it had pursued a fowl, so 



it will be seen that these birds are both bold and voracious. 



