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 Subfamily— Falconinae. True Falcons. 



The Falcons were known to the old falconers as the Noble or Long- 

 winged birds of prey and, on account of their great spirit, strength, and 

 address, were the chosen birds for use in hunting. Their long wings give 

 them great speed and their endurance permits them to maintain it. They 

 are bold and strong and capture their prey by sudden swoops when possible, 

 but unlike the Accipiters are not discouraged when their stroke misses. 

 Their first object is to rise above the prey, which they do by means of a 

 long spiral climb. Once above their prey they drop like a bullet upon it 

 striking with their powerful talons as they do so. 



The flight of the Falcons is quite recognizable — quick strokes with 

 pointed wings and with very little sailing. Seen in the hand, the upper 

 mandible furnished with a tooth (Figure 33 a, p. 23) will always separate 

 the Falcons from other Hawks. Fortunately, none but the smallest and 

 least harmful of the subfamily is common within cultivated areas and 

 those that size makes important are either very rare or are confined to the 

 far north where their depredations can do the husbandman no harm. 

 Even those that do occur occasionally about cultivation are generally wild 

 and wary enough to keep away from the immediate vicinity of habitation. 



Genus — Falco. Falcons. 

 Subgenus — Hierofalco. Falcons. 



Gyrfalcons. 



General Description. Large falcons 20 to 22 inches in length, usually of very white 

 coloration, sometimes almost black. Their large size distinguishes these birds from aU 

 others of the subfamily. 



The Gyrfalcons were most highly regarded for hunting by the falconers 

 of old and by the exacting laws of the times their use was restricted to 

 persons of the highest rank. They combine all the spirit and hardihood 

 of the smaller species with greater size and strength and hence were 

 adapted for the largest game to be taken with birds. The Gyrfalcons are 

 of far northern distribution in Canada and are very rare within the limits 

 of settlement, rarely troubling poultry yards cr game coverts; otherwise 

 a war of extermination would probably have to be waged against them as 

 they are undoubtedly very destructive. 



In Canada there are two species. They are circumpolar in distribu- 

 tion, occurring in the northern parts of both the Old and New Worlds. 



353. White Gyrfalcon. fr. — le fat/con blanc. Falco islandus. L, 22. A very 

 large Falcon, mostly pure white with small but sharp markings of light brown. 



Distinctions. The general whiteness and the lack of markings on the undertail- 

 coverts will differentiate this from the next species. Its large size and obviously falcon- 

 like characters will identify it as a Gyrfalcon. 



Nesting. On rocky cliffs. 



Distribution. The Arctic regions. Breeds in Greenland and the adjacent parts of 

 America. Only a casual visitor in the settled parts of Canada. 



None of the Gyrfalcons are common in the settled parts of Canada 

 and, therefore, will not be discussed in detail. 



