GREENLAND FALCON. 



FALCO CANDICANS, J. F. Gmelin. 



Falco candicans, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 275 (1788) ; Naum. 



i. p. 269, xiii. p. 16; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 36; Dresser, vi. 



p. 21. 

 Falco gyrfalco, Macg. iii. p. 284. 



Jagd-Falke, Edel-Falke, Griinlandischer-Falke, German. 



This beautiful Falcon is a scarce and irregular winter 

 visitor to the United Kingdom. Prom the fact that 

 two, or perhaps three, species, of which the present 

 bird is one, were formerly lumped together under the 

 name of " Jer " (properly " Gyr ") Falcons, a good deal 

 of confusion has arisen as to the identification in several 

 instances of the occurrence of the northern Falcons in 

 our Islands; but this species is to be distinguished at 

 all ages from the Iceland and Norway Falcons by the 

 fact (first made known by Mr. John Hancock) that the 

 ground-colour of its plumage is always white, whereas 

 the two birds last named have a generally darker 

 plumage, marked with white or light grey ; to the eye 

 of a falconer there is a peculiar " make " and character 

 about the Greenland Falcon that arc quite sufficient to 



