(^LASSII. GYRFALCON. '\'i £tz 



males ; the defence of their young, and the 

 providing them with food, resting chiefly on 

 them. :; ^rii^tu ^iv: 



Falco islandicus, F. albus macu- White Falcon, Wil, orn. 80. 6. Gyrfal- 



lis fuscis varlus, rectricibus F. Islandus albus. HrunnicJi con. 



albis, lateralibus extus fusco ' 7> 8. 



- Tad.c\i\3.iis. Lath. Ind. orh.22. Le Gerfaxilt. Brisson (fv. u 

 , icl.Syn.i.Q3,S4:.id.Sup.i.2l. 370. Hist, d'ois. i.23g. PL 

 Le Gerfault. Belo7i av. 94. Enl. 446. 



GyxMco. Jldr.a?:. 1.243. Sil. Scot. 14. ;' 



Jer-falcon. Wil.orn. 78. Clharlton EcX. 317. - 



Gyr falco. Rail syn. av. 13. White Gyr-falcon. Arct. 



ZooL i. 232. • ■ ' - 



J- HIS elegant species is not much inferior in Descrip- 



size to the Osprey. The irides are dusky : the bill ^^°^' 



is very much hooked and yellow. The throat 



is of a pure white : the -whole plumage of the 



same color, but marked with dusky lines, spots 



or bars ; the head, breast and belly with narrow 



lines, thinly scattered and pointing downwards; 



the wings with large heart-shaped spots ; the 



middle feathers of the tail with a few bars : the 



feathers on the thighs are very long, and of a 



pure Avhite ; the legs of a pale blue, and fea- ...... 



thered a little below the knees. This kind is "'^^^ 

 sometimes found quite white : it was in high 

 esteem when falconry was in vogue, and useid for 

 the noblest game, such as cranes and herons. 



