102 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



GYRFALCONS. 



Falco islandus et rusticolus. 



Although Gyrfalcons are very important ornithologically and are much 

 sought after by collectors, they possess no great interest from an eco- 

 nomic standpoint, since they are never seen in the farming lands of the 

 United States and Canada except in severe winters. It has been thought 

 best, therefore, to include under one article all our four species and 

 races of these birds. 



The White Gyrfalcon {Falco islandus) inhabits the circumpolar re- 

 gions, breeding in Greenland and the northeastern portions of Arctic 

 America. 



The Gray Gyrfalcon {Falco rusticolus) inhabits the extreme northern 

 portions of Europe (except Scandinavia), Asia, and North America, 

 including Iceland and southern Greenland ; it occurs south, in winter, 

 as far as the northern border of the United States. 



The Common Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus gyrfalco) inhabits northern 

 Europe, Arctic America from northern Labrador and coasts of Hudson 

 Bay to Alaska. 



The Black Gyrfalcon {Falco rusticolus obsoletus) inhabits the coast 

 of Labrador, ranging south in winter to Maine, southern Canada, and 

 New York. 



All the forms breed far north, and are very rarely seen at any season 

 of the year south of parallel 50°. The food of the Gyrfalcons consists 

 mainly of ptarmigan, grouse, water-fowl, hares, and other birds and 

 mammals of medium size, which inhabit the wild regions in company 

 with them. 



Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, speaking of Falco rusticolus on Bering Island 

 in winter, says : 



" It was at that season by no means uncommon, and fed chiefly on 

 the numerous field mice which now infest that island ; but, being very 

 shy, specimens were only secured with great difficulty." (Bull. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., No. 29, 1885, p. 203.) Of five specimens which he examined 

 one was empty, four contained the remains of meadow mice (Arvicolm), 

 aud one the flesh and feathers of a gull. 



Audubon gives the following relating to its food: "About its [the 

 nest's] edges were strewed the remains of their food, and beneath, on the 

 margin of the stream, lay a quantity of wings of the Uria troile, Mor- 

 mon arcticus, and Tetrao saliceti, together with large pellets composed 

 of fur, bones, and various substances. * * * Many were the in- 

 stances in which I saw these warriors descend like a streak of light- 

 ning, pounce on a puffin, and carry it off in their talons." (Ornith. Bi- 

 ography, vol. ii, pp. 552-553.) 



Mr. H. A. Purdie, speaking of a specimen captured in Piscataquis 

 County, Me., December, 1876, says: "It had caught several hens, 

 and having pursued one under a barn through a small opening, was 



