296 



THE JER-FALCOK 



The true Falcons are known by their strong, thick, and curved beak, 

 the upper mandible having a projecting tooth near the curve, which 

 fits into a corresponding socket in the under mandible. The talons 

 are strongly curved, sharp-pointed, and are either flat or grooved in 

 their under' sides. The Falcons all obtain their prey by striking it 

 while on the wing ; and with such terrible force is the attack made 

 ihat a Peregrine Falcon has been known to strike the head completely 

 from the shoulders of its quarry, while the mere 

 force of its stroke, without the use of its claws, 

 is sufficient to kill a pigeon or a partridge and 

 send it dead to the ground. 



In striking their prey the Falcons make no 

 use of the beak, reserving that weapon for the 

 purpose of completing the slaughter when they 

 and the wounded quarry are struggling on the 

 ground. 



Among the true Falcons the Jer-falcon is 

 the most conspicuous on account of tlie superior 

 dimensions of its bo_dy and the striking power 

 of its wing. 



This splendid bird is a native of Northern 

 Europe, being mostly found in Iceland and 

 Norway, and it also inhabits parts of both 

 Americas. Some naturalists believe that the 

 Norwegian and Icelandic birds ought to be 

 reckoned as different species, but others think 

 The Rofgh-leggtcdFal- that any differences between them are occa- 



COyi [talco laqopus). . i , *^ -, t. • • i i . r. i 



^ ^ ' sioned by age and sex. It is said tliat of the 

 two birds the Iceland variety is the more powerful, of bolder flight, and 

 greater age, and therefore better adapted for the purpose of falconry. 

 Som-timos it is seen in the northern parts of the British Islands, having 

 evidently flown over the five hundred miles or so of sea that divides 

 Scotland from Iceland ; tiiis journey, however, is no difficult task for 

 the Jer-falcon, who is quite capable of paying a mornini^ visit to these 

 islands and returning to its home on the same day. In 1859 one of these 

 birds was shot in Northumberland, and others have been observed in 

 the more southern counties. Toward the south, however, it has seldom 

 if ever been observed. 



The color of the adult Jer-falcon is nearly white, being purely white 

 on the under surface and flecked with narrow transverse bars of gray- 

 ish brown upon the upper parts. The sharp claws are black, the beak 

 of a bluish tint, and the cere, tarsus, and toes yellow. When young, 

 however, the bird presents a very different aspect, and would hardly be 

 recognized as belonging to the same species. In its earlier stages of 



