The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 187 



directions, but they soon met again, and took up the bailie nearer 

 to the coast. Here the falcon got relief from two birds of ils own 

 kin, and now the Raven was obliged to depart hastily, while Ihe 

 three falcons settled on the summit of a rock." 



Not rarely I observed falcons pursued by Skuas (Lestris longi- 

 caiida). At the end of August the young Skuas will frequently be 

 sitting around on stones, still cared for by their parents, which with 

 extreme violence will guard their offspring against attacks from fal- 

 cons. The Skuas exceed by far the Gyrfalcons in ability of flight, 

 and the falcons therefore always wish to escape the pursuit and 

 retire to the rocks. Most frequently 3 or 4 Skuas would join in an 

 attack; the battle would usually be fought out immensely high up 

 in the air. 



The young Gyrfalcons proved very inquisitive and bul little 

 shy. I could generally call them quite near by throwing my cap or 

 mitten up in the air. 



When wounded the falcon will defend itself bravely, lying on 

 its back with outstretched talons. 



For examination I had some 50 Gyrfalcons which showed great 

 dissimilarities in their size, plumage and colour of feet; I must 

 however consider them all to belong to the form candicans. In the 

 majority of the young birds the feet, claws and bills were dark — 

 almost lead-coloured. I found however in a few very pale individuals 

 greenish-yellow feet, fully or partly white claws and very light bill. 



In all the old falcons the feet were yellow — in one bright 

 yellow — the claws and the bill pale. 



For the zoological museum in Copenhagen were collected the 

 skins af 9 older and younger birds, 3 newborn young ones and one 

 egg. The following measurements have been taken: 



