THE WHITE GYRFALCON. 283 



Of the two specimens, both from different nests, in the U. S. National 

 Museum collection, and about whose correct identification I am by no means 

 satisfied, No. 2606, marked Falco candicans, collected in Greenland in 1858, 

 and purchased from Madam H. Drouet, measures only 57 by 45 millimetres, 

 and seems to be too small an egg to belong to this bird. No. 13231, 

 obtained from Dr. T. M. Brewer, and also from Greenland, is more of the 

 probable size, measuring 59.5 by 46.5 millimetres. 



They resemble the eggs of the Gyrfalcon both in shape and color, and 

 are not distinguishable from these, making a detailed description unneces- 

 sary. None of these eggs are figured. 



94. Falco rusticolus Linnjeus. 



GRAY GYRFALCON. 



Falco rusticolus Linnjeus, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, 1, 1758, 88. 



(B 12, C — , R 412«, C 500, U 354.) 



Geographical range : Extreme northern portions of Europe (except Scandi- 

 navia), Asia, and North America, including Iceland and southern Greenland ; south 

 in winter to northern border of United States. 



The Gray Gyrfalcon is another species whose breeding range is still 

 rather imperfectly known. According to Ridgway, it inhabits the extreme 

 northern portions of Europe (excepting Scandinavia), Asia, and North America, 

 including Iceland and* southern Greenland, and it probably breeds through- 

 out the range indicated. In south Greenland and Iceland it is said to nest 

 mostly on the inaccessible cliffs along the seashore, usually in close proximity 

 to bird rocks, which supply them with an abundance of easily procured food. 



The eggs of the Gray Gyrfalcon are said to be three or four in number, 

 and indistinguishable, both in color and size, from those of the other large 

 Gyrfalcons found in northern North America. In south Greenland they 

 are usually deposited during the latter part of April and throughout May. 

 There are no specimens in the U. S. National Museum collection. 



95. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (Linmeus). 



GYRFALCON. 



Falco gyrfalco Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, l, 1758, 91. 

 Falco rusticolus gyrfalco Stejneger, Auk, 11, 1885, 187. 



(B — , C 341, R 4126, C 498, U 354a.) 



Geographical range: Northern Europe and Arctic America, from northern 

 Labrador and coasts of Hudson Bay to Alaska. 



The breeding range of the Gyrfalcon, a slightly darker colored bird 

 than the preceding, is somewhat better known than that of the two allied 

 subspecies already mentioned. It includes Arctic North America, from north- 

 ern Labrador and the coasts of Hudson Bay, throughout the so-called Fur 



