CLASSIFIED NOTES 535 



the female is somewhat larger. Length 22 in. [558 mm.]. Crown and sides of the head 

 and nape white, mesially streaked with black, remainder of upper surface ash-brown ; primary 

 flight-feathers brownish black, freckled on their inner webs with ash-brown; tail brownish ash 

 tinged with rust colour, with eight or nine indistinct bands of black; throat white, mesially 

 streaked with blackish brown; breast rufous brown, with blackish shafts to the feathers; 

 iris greyish, with a yellowish tinge surrounded by a black line ; legs pale yellow ; claws black. 

 [w. P. P. and T. w. ] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in Central and Southern Europe, North- West Africa and Western 

 Asia. In North-East and Tropical Africa and in various parts of Asia it is replaced by allied 

 races. In Europe it nests commonly in Spain, also in Southern France, Germany, Switzerland, 

 Italy, Austro-Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula (but not proved to breed in Greece), and Russia 

 from the Baltic Provinces and the Olonetz government south to the Caucasus. In Asia 

 it breeds from Palestine, Asia Minor, and Transcaspia east apparently to the Lena. In Africa it 

 is common on the Cape Verde Isles and from Marocco to Tunisia, north of the Atlas range. 

 To Europe the black-kite is a summer migrant, and winters in Africa, ranging to S. Africa, 

 and, according to Newton, Madagascar. As a casual it has occurred twice in Great Britain 

 (Northumberland and Aberdeen), and also in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. [F. c. R. J.] 



[BLACK\viNGED-KiTE, Eldnus cccriileus (Desfontaines). Is said to have been shot about 

 1862 in Co. Meath, but the evidence is insufficient. One is said to have occurred in 

 N. France. [F. c. H. J.] ] 



SwALLOWTAiLED-KiTE, Eldnoides forficdtus (Linnaeus). Is said to have occurred 

 several times in Great Britain. It inhabits North and South America, but has not been recorded 

 from the Continent, and further evidence is desirable before it can be admitted. [F. c. B. J.]] 



THE FALCONS 1 



[ORDER : Accipitres. SUBORDER : Falcones. FAMILY : Falconidce] 

 ICELAND-FALCON [Fdlco rusticohis isldndus Briinnich. German, Isldndischer Jagdfalke]. 



1. Description. Differs from the gyr-falcon in having the head white, streaked with black. 

 The sexes are alike, except that the male is smaller than the female. Length 22 in. 

 [558 mm.]. General colour of the upper parts greyish brown, all the feathers barred and tipped 

 with white ; tail greyish brown, with about twelve transverse bars of white ; throat uniform 

 pure white ; remainder of the under parts white, the breast feathers with a longitudinal strap- 

 streak of black, terminating in an oval spot, while the flanks are heavily barred with black ; 

 iris dark brown ; cere, orbits, and feet yellow. The Iceland-falcon is, moreover, a larger and 

 more stoutly built bird than either the gyr or Greenland-falcon, the tail is proportionally 

 shorter, the wings longer, and the head much larger, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds on cliffs in Iceland, where it is resident, but occasionally strays 

 in winter to the British Isles. [F. c. R. J.] 



GYR-FALCON [Fdlco nwtlcolus rusticolus Linnaeus ; Fdlco gyrfdlco Linnaeus. French, 

 gerfaut ; German, Jagdfalke]. 



1. Description. Distinguished from the Iceland- falcon by the uniformly slate-coloured 

 head and dark moustachial streak. The sexes are alike in coloration and markings, but the 

 female is larger than the male. Total length about 20 in. [507 mm.]. General colour 



1 Vol. iv. p. 133. 



