Falco Sacer, Foster. 



FALCO LABRADORA, Aud. (Dark Stage.) 



THE GYE FALCON ; DAWSON'S FALCON. 

 PLATE IV. 



I would draw special attention to the bird figured on this 

 plate. It has never before appeared in any ornithological work, 

 and indeed is unknown to most naturalists. There are but two 

 specimens ot it preserved in Canada, and possibly in the whole 

 of North America. The following is their history : — About 

 twenty years ago, there was brought into one of our markets 

 in Montreal a singular and unusually large Hawk or Falcon. This 

 fortunately was purchased, and eventually found its way into our 

 Museum of Natural History. For some time this stuffed specimen 

 attracted a great deal of attention among our naturalists and local 

 ornithologists, none of whom remembered having ever seen one 

 altogether like it. After receiving the usual amount of handling, 

 however, the interest caused by its first appearance subsided, and 

 the bird was carefully ticketed and placed in — the usual receptacle 

 for stuffed birds, — an upright glass case. Here it remained for 

 about five years, attracting but little attention. In the autumn of 

 1 86 1, however, a relative of Mr. Wm. Hunter's, the taxidermist of 

 the Society, had the good fortune to shoot at Lachine (near 

 Montreal), a second specimen of this species, which happened to 

 be a young male. This was skinned, preserved and beautifully 

 mounted by Mr. Hunter, and presented by him to the Nat. Hist. 

 .Society of Montreal. The second occurrence of this rare bird 

 again aroused the attention of our naturalists, and among others 

 that of the late Dr. Archibald Hall, who for some time had 

 been euCTatred on a list of the Mammals and Birds of the 

 District. After due examination Dr. Hall concluded it to be a 

 new species, described and added it to his list under the name 

 of Falco Dazvso7ii (new species Hall ! ) — " after the esteemed Prin- 

 cipal of McGill College." In his description of it. Hall says, " It 



