29 



the sternum, and writes as follows : — " The head is larger, so much so that, in modelling the 

 hoods for trained birds of the two kinds, falconers use different blocks. Whether all these 

 distinctive features can be established on the comparison of a large series of specimens, is perhaps 

 uncertain ; but it does appear that in some parts at least of the structure of the two forms there 

 exists a remarkable difference of proportion, which does not seem to have been hitherto noticed. 

 The average length of the sternum and coracoid in Falco islandus, as ascertained by the careful 

 measurement of six female specimens, not specially selected for the purpose, in the Museum of 

 the University of Cambridge, is 5-46861 inches, while the average length of the same bones in as 

 many specimens of F. gijrfalco of the same sex, and in the same Museum, is 5-0G383 inches. 

 This would at once show that the Icelander has the longer body of the two by nearly half an 

 inch ; but the difference becomes more striking when it is found that the breadth of the sternal 

 apparatus does not vary in accordance with its length, being absolutely broadest in the Gyr 

 Falcon, and, further, that the disproportion is chiefly caused by the elongation of the coracoid 

 bones in the Icelander, where the sternum alone has an average length of 3'65G08 inches against 

 3-47143 inches in the true Gyr Falcon." 



After a careful examination of the series in the British Museum, as well as that at Norwich, 

 I cannot agree with Mr. Sharpe in assigning specific rank to the lighter-coloured examples of 

 this species : and I feel sure that in one instance at least he has included the Greenland Falcon 

 as Falco holbcelli; for an example which he figures in his catalogue (pi. 13, right-hand figure), 

 nearly as white as any Greenland Falcon, is, in my opinion, true Falco candicans. This specimen 

 was received from Mr. Gould, who labelled it as coming from Iceland ; and I can well believe 

 that such was the case, as I possess a specimen closely resembling it, which was most certainly 

 shot in Iceland ; but Mr. Gould, on being questioned, was not quite certain as to whether it 

 really did come from that island, and Mr. Sharpe therefore altered the locality from Iceland to 

 Greenland. So far as I can gather, Holboll's Falco arcticus was true F. islandus; and this is 

 borne out by information received from Mr. Bond, who assures me that he has seen numerous 

 examples sent over by Governor Holboll, all of which were ordinary dark Iceland Falcons. 

 Like the Greenland Falcon the present species is subject to considerable variation in shade of 

 colour ; but the palest specimen I have seen is much darker on the upper parts than the Green- 

 land Falcon, has the upper parts washed with blue-grey, the light markings smaller than the 

 darker portions of the plumage, and the inner webs of the primaries and the tail very distinctly 

 and strongly barred. 



Like the Greenland Falcon the present species nests in the cliffs, usually choosing a place 

 which is very difficult of access. Mr. Hewitson, writing respecting Mr. Proctor's visit to Iceland, 

 says: — "He had gone out for the purpose of collecting birds and their eggs, but did not reach 

 the favourite localities of the Iceland Falcon till the broods were flown. This was in the 

 beginning of August, when he shot several full-grown young ones, and found some of the 

 deserted nests; the one from which he took the egg then drawn was composed of sticks and 

 roots, lined with wool, amongst which the egg, a rotten one, was embedded. He supposes that 

 the nest may have been that of a Raven, which is most probable, as it resembled one. The 

 remains of many birds (Whimbrels, Golden Plovers, Guillemots, and Ducks) lay strewed about 

 the nest. This nest and others which Mr. Proctor saw were all in the cliffs forming the boundaries 



