214 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



In the Hudson's Bay country, Dr. Bell says : " This species is 

 known as the Partridge, or Winter Hawk, although it remains also- 

 during the summer and breeds in the country." 



This is one of the destructive class {d), which is said to live on 

 game without compensation, and should therefore be destroyed, but 

 throughout Ontario it is not likely to be troublesome. 



In a letter from Mr. W. E. Brooks, of Mount Forest, dated 

 January 17th, 1894, the writer says : "A few days ago, a fine Gyr- 

 falcon passed over our fowls as they were being fed. It was a little- 

 too high to be reached with an ordinary charge, and, as' often hap- 

 pens, there was no gun at hand, so that the chance of securing a rare 

 specimen was lost.' 



Mr. Brooks is well acquainted with these birds, for he had shot 

 them during his re.sidence in British Columbia. * 



These are the only positive records of the species having been. 

 observed in Ontario, but as they are powerful birds on the wing, and 

 much given to wandering during the winter, I have no doubt that 

 all of the forms described will yet be found along our northern fron- 

 tier. To assist in the identification of any that may be secured, I 

 shall here give Mr. Ridgway's description of the different varieties : 



.354. F. RUSTicoLus (Linn.). (Jray Gyefalcon. 



Adult: — With upper parts banded with dusky and bluish-gray (sometimes 

 uniform dusky anteriorly); the flanks and thighs, barred, banded or trans- 

 versely spotted with dusky. Yoinii/ : — Without transverse bars on upper parts 

 (except sometimes on tail) ; and lower parts, with all the markings longitudinal. 



Hab. — Extreme northern portions of Kurope (except Scandinavia), Asia and 

 North America (including Iceland and southern (Greenland); south in winter to 

 northern border of United States. 



354a. K. RUSTICOLUS ijykfalc(j. 



Adult: — With anterior upper parts (back, scapxdars and wing coverts),. 

 rather indistinctly barred with bluish-gray, often nearly plain dusky; ilanks, 

 heavily banded or spotted with dusky; and thighs heavily baried with slaty 

 (the white ground color tinged with bluish-gray posteriorly). 



Hab. — Northern Europe and Arctic America, from northern Labrador and 

 coasts of Hiidson's Bay to Alaska. 



3546. F. KuSTicoLU.s obsulktus. Bi^ack (Jyrfalcon. 

 Lower parts, with dusky prevailing, sometimes entirely dusky, except on. 

 lower tail coverts, which are always spotted with white. 



Hab. — Coast of Labrador, south in winter to Maine, Canada and Xew- York.. 



