i io FALCONIM: : HAWKS. 



other high latitudes, the white predominates over the dark mark- 

 ings ; the bill and feet are whitish. This form is probably never 

 seen in the United States. In var. islandicus, dark markings 

 predominate ; the bill and claws are dark ; the crown is lighter 

 than the back, and the dark moustaches are slight. This form 

 occurs in New England, as a rare winter apparition. The var. 

 sacer, the North American representative of F. gyrfalco of 

 Northern Europe, is like the last, but with the crown darker than 

 the back, and the moustaches heavy; it is believed to have been 

 seen in New England. Var. obsoletus is still darker, quite 

 blackish ; this form even breeds in New England. 



Dark-colored Gyrfalcons are of occasional occurrence 

 in New England, notes to which effect run many years 

 back in the history of the subject. Of late, one form, 

 the darkest of all, has been ascertained to reside in 

 Northern New England. Specimens supposed to repre- 

 sent two other varieties have also been taken at various 

 times. The form candicans has apparently never oc- 

 curred, though the name has been repeatedly attached 

 to New England examples of Gyrfalcon. 



Mr. Purdie has obligingly looked up the later records 

 with the following result : 



F. gyrfalco obsoletus. Massachusetts, two instances : 

 Breed's Island, Boston Harbor, Oct., 1876, Cory, Nuttall 

 Bull., ii, 1877, p. 27; Essex County, Purdie, ibid., iv, 

 1879, p. 189. Dumerston, Vermont, a rare resident, 

 Brewer, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist, xvii, 1875, p. 444. 

 Calais, Me., Brewer, ibid., xix, 1878, p. 306; Boardman, 

 Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., ix, 1862, p. 122, under name 

 of " F. candicans" 



F. gyrfalco sacer (Forst.) Maine, Piscataquis Co., one 

 instance, believed to be its first recognized occurrence 

 in Eastern U. S., certainly the first in New England : 

 Purdie, Nutt. Bull., iv, 1879, P- J 88. (Does the " F. 



