ICELAND OR JER FALCON. 555 



house is yet living, in perfect health, which it has always been in since T 

 possessed it. I have now had it a little more than three years. It came 

 over from Iceland in a whaler to Hull, and was presented by the owner 

 of the vessel to a friend of mine, from whom I obtained it. I believe it 

 must have been a bird of the preceding year's brood. It is therefore four 

 years old, not less certainly, and may be considered adult. It has always 

 moulted early, and has already cast a number of its primary quill-feathers, 

 and several of the scapulars, although not disfigured. It is a very power- 

 ful, strong bird, and were it to be carried such a distance in confinement, 

 it would struggle so much, that I am afraid it would very much injure its 

 this year's moult at this time, and I think thou should have much diflSculty 

 in securing it. I shall now describe the bird, that thy father may be able 

 to judge how far it may probably be of the same species as the one he 

 has lately discovered and brought out. 



" In length I should think it does not much exceed the Rough-legged 

 Falcon, but in every other respect is larger, being very broad and power- 

 ful, the legs and thighs much stronger and formidable. When seen with 

 its head towards you, in the act of tearing its food, it conveys an idea of 

 very great power. Its breadth, and particvdarly its powerful thighs, are 

 then seen to very great advantage. The legs and feet are very much the 

 type of the Peregrine Falcon, and indeed the whole form of the bird, only 

 that it is so much stronger, even more than its increased bulk alone would 

 occasion. It has always got through the moult very well, and nothing 

 can be more perfect than its general state of plumage, and it is a very 

 cleanly bird. 



" The head, neck, throat, breast, belly, and legs (which are feathered 

 to within an inch of the toes), are the most pure white, and the plumage 

 very compact. The first year I had it, all these parts were slightly 

 marked with delicate pencilled lines lengthwise, but have now totally dis- 

 appeared, except one or two faint ones on the outside of the thighs. The 

 back and tail are also pure white ; the two middle feathers of the tail are 

 a little barred on each side the shaft, which is dark coloured, as also the 

 primary quills of the wings. The back, scapulars, wing-coverts, and 

 primary quills, are all elegantly marked with a dark mouse colour, the 

 markings on the primary quills, which are chiefly towards the tip, ap- 

 proach nearly to black. The tail when closed is a little rounded at the 

 tip ; the under side of the wings and vent pure white. The bill, which is 

 notched in a very graceful form, is pale blue, inclining to black at the tip 



