254 COUES, BIRDS OF NP:W ENGLAND. 



Cathartes atratus Less. — Bltick Vulture. Carrion Crow. 

 Entirely accidental. (Swampscott, Nov. 1850, S. Jilhon, 

 quoted by Putn., p. 223. — Gloucester, Sept. 28, 1863, 

 Verrill, quoted by All., p. 81. — Brew. 061., p. 5. — 

 Omitted from Sam. 0.0.) 



FALCONIDJE. 



Fcdco anatum^ Bon. — American Pereo-rine Falcon. 

 Duck Hawk. Resident and generally distributed, though 

 nowhere Very abundant. Chiefly a winter visitant in 

 more southern localities, though known to breed in Mass. 

 and Ct. (Near Springfield, Mass., O. W. Bennett, (^\oiQ(l 

 by All., p. 50. — Near Hartford, Ct., W. Wood, in Hartf. 

 "Times," June 24, 1861.) Regularly breeds in various 

 portions of Maine. 



It is very questionable whether this bird be more than a 

 geographical race or variety of the Old World F. peri- 

 grinus. Numerous other forms (among them F. nigiHcejJs 

 Cass., from western North America), from various parts 

 of the world, are known to exist, all of which are inti- 

 mately related to the European bird. 



No. 11, $, adult. Off Bermuda, Capt. George Upton, Oct. 29, 1849. 



Falco sacer Forster. — Jerfalcon or Gyrfalcon. " White " 

 or "Speckled" Hawk. — Rare winter visitant; and only 

 accidental as far south as Mass. I cannot find an authen- 

 tic instance of its breeding in New England. (Norway, 

 Me., "not uncommon;" Verr., p. 4. — Mass., Peab., p. 

 260. — Sekonk Plains, Mass., Jillson, quoted by Putn., p. 

 226, and by the other State authorities. — Omitted from 

 Sam. 0. O.) 



The Jerfalcon which visits New England is variously 

 o'iven as ''" Islandicus" or ^^ cand leans." I do not know 

 which is really the proper name, nor whether more than 

 one species be found. I believe it is still an open ques- 

 tion among ornithologists, whether these two names do 

 not refer to the same species ; or in other words whether 

 there is really more than a single valid species of Jer- 



*For some exceedingly interesting information upon the habits and 

 especially the nidiflcation of this Hawk, see Allen, Pr. E. I., 1865, p. 153. 



