292 CHAMBERLAIN, Birds of Southern Greenland. [October 
This Eagle hunts the Eider much the same as the Greenlander does. The 
Duck is chased and forced to dive so constantly, and to stay under water 
so long, that it becomes exhausted, and on remaining on the surface to 
recover breath and to rest, is captured. Sometimes the Eider will take 
to the air and then escape, for the Eagle cannot outfly it. 
This Eagle also sometimes preys on the Murres. 
On May 15 a clutch of eggs was obtained that had been taken from the 
nest about two weeks previously; they had been sat upon about one week. 
On June to another clutch was secured that had been taken about three 
weeks, and these were almost wholly incubated. It is probable that nests 
with fresh eggs can be found in April. 
Falco islandus. WuitE GyRFALCON. 
Falco rusticolus. Gray GyrRFALCON.—[From skins that have been 
sent to me by Mr. Hagerup, and which have been examined with Mr. 
William Brewster’s assistance, it is evident that it is to the above species 
the birds Mr. Hagerup writes of must be referred.—M. C. ] 
_Gyrfalcons reside during the entire year in southern Greenland and 
breed there, but are met with near the settlement more frequently in 
winter than in summer; in the latter season they are quite rare. 
On June 3, 1886, Mr. Hagerup shot a female in gray plumage witha naked 
breeding-spot on the breast. In its stomach were feathers and claws of 
Ptarmigan. The length of this bird was 23 inches, Danish. On August 
11a dark-colored specimen was obtained which measured 19 inches. One 
or two more in dark plumage were seen during the summer. In winter 
many came from the north, the first, in 1886, appearing on November 24. 
In his notes Mr. Hagerup writes :—In November five were seen—all white ; 
in December fifteen or twenty—only one of these was dark-colored; in 
January twelve—two were dark; in February none; in March two—white ; 
in April four—two dark.” From these and other observations Mr. Hagerup 
has concluded that the white form (/. ¢s/andus) predominates in winter 
and the gray form (/. rus¢tzcolus) in summer. 
These Falcons, like the Eagle, are most frequently seen alone the upper 
portion of the fjord after gales or snowstorms. 
Mr. Hagerup writes that his Pigeons are very much afraid of these 
Falcons and on the approach of their dreaded enemy seek the nearest hid- 
ing place, but when there is no opportunity to hide they escape by flight, 
mounting into the air toa great height. It is a grand sight to watch a 
fierce Falcon chasing a Pigeon through mid-air. As yet, none of the Pigeons 
have been caught; they seem to understand just how to avoid the Falcon, 
but it is reported that sometimes young birds have been thus preyed upon. 
Those who have watched both the Gyrfalcon and the Peregrine while 
chasing Pigeons consider that the latter has much the swifter flight and is 
the more dexterous. During these chases the Falcons often come within 
gun-shot, but the flight is so swift it is difficult to hit them. 
At times the Falcon is followed by a Raven or two, and they swoop after 
each other, but this seems to be a mere matter of play. 
Mr. Hagerup once saw a large Gyrfalcon in very dark plumage on the 
