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hands. It was shot at Burravoe, in the island of Yell, in March 1868, while sitting upon a wall 

 devouring a tame Pigeon." 



To the continent of Europe the present species straggles but rarely. So far as I can 

 ascertain, it has not occurred in Scandinavia, being there replaced by Falco gyrfalco ; but is found 

 in the Fseroes, where, according to Captain Feilden, it is by no means uncommon in the winter 

 months, but has not been known to breed there. Mr. A. Benzon informs me that either this 

 species or Falco gyrfalco now and again occurs in Denmark, but he cannot determine which, as 

 they are almost always in immature dress ; but it is stated to have occurred in Holland and 

 Germany. It appears doubtful if the present species has ever occurred in Asia, though several 

 authors record it from there. Greenland and Iceland, especially the latter, appear to be its true 

 home. Professor Newton says that it " is probably of universal occurrence in Iceland, but 

 certainly more common near Myvatn than anywhere else in the island, owing perhaps to the 

 great facilities for breeding afforded them by the inaccessible precipices in the neighbourhood, 

 and to the abundance of food in the immediate vicinity." In Greenland it is stated to be 

 tolerably common in the southern portions of the country, where it breeds ; but in the north it 

 is replaced by Falco candicans. 



I have seen several specimens from the eastern side of North America ; but the species found 

 in other portions of North America is certainly not the Iceland Falcon, but the true Jer Falcon, 

 precisely similar to the Norwegian bird. I possess examples of the Iceland Falcon from 

 Labrador, where, however, it would appear to be a straggler, the resident species there being 

 Falco labradorus. 



In habits the present species does not differ from its allies the Greenland Falcon and the 

 Jer Falcon ; but though swift and strong on the wing, and formerly highly valued for falconry, 

 it is, Messrs. Salvin and Brodrick say, by no means up to the high standard one would naturally 

 expect it to be. Some trained at Mr. Newcome's failed, they say, in taking hares, and only 

 one or two out of the number proved good Heron-Hawks. The present species, these gentle- 

 men write, " was formerly used in this country for flying the Fork-tailed Kite, which forty or 

 fifty years ago was a common bird in many districts, although now so seldom seen. This sport 

 was much followed by the Earl of Orford and Colonel Thornton about the year 1773, and by 

 Mr. Colquhoun, of Wretham near Thetford, about 1785. Brandon warren, in Norfolk, and the 

 neighbourhood of Alconbury Hill, in Huntingdonshire, were favourite localities for Kite-hawking. 

 Sir John Sebright relates the mode in which this sport was carried on, viz. that the great Owl 

 (Strix bubo), to the leg of which the falconers attached a fox's brush, was thrown up for the 

 purpose of drawing the Kite down, upon which the Falcons were slipped at him. This Falcon 

 was also sometimes employed in taking hares. Many, however, consider all ground-game quite 

 beneath the notice of a bird possessing such power of wing as a Falcon, and would "leave it 

 entirely to the Goshawk. At the present day Iceland Falcons that are trained to ' wait on,' 

 might be used for Grouse- and Blackgame-hawking, as also for Herons, Wild Geese and Ducks, 

 and probably also for Gulls, Rooks, &c." 



The Iceland Falcon is a stouter-built and larger bird than the Greenland and Jer Falcon ; 

 and the tail is proportionally shorter, the wings longer, and the head much larger. Professor 

 Newton, quoting from Mr. Hoy, carefully points out these distinctions, as also the difference in 



