Class II. GYRFALCON. 217 



males ; the defence of their young, and the 

 providing them with food, resting chiefly on 

 them. 



Falco islandicus. F. albus macu- White Falcon. Wil, orn. 80. 6. Gyrfal- 



lis fuscis varius, rectricibus F. Islandus albus. Brunnich cow. 



albis, lateralibus extus fusco 7, 8. 



maculatis. Lath. hid. orn. 32. Le Gerfault. Brisson av. i. 



id.Syn. i. 83,84. id. Sup. i. 21. 370. Hist, d'ois. i. 23Q. PI. 

 Le Gerfault. Belon av. Q4-. Enl. 446. 



Gyrfalco. Aldr. an. i. 243. Sib. Scot. 14. 



Jer-falcon. WiU orn. 78. Charlton Ex. 317- 



Gyrfalco. Rati syn. av. 13. White Gyr-falcon. Arct. 



Zool. i. 232. 



JL HIS elegant species is not much inferior in Descrip- 

 size to the Osprey. The irides are dusky : the bill 

 is very much hooked and yellow. The throat 

 is of a pure white : the whole plumage of the 

 same color, but marked with dusky lines, spots 

 or bars ; the head, breast and belly with narrow 

 lines, thinly scattered and pointing downwards; 

 the wings with large heart-shaped spots; the 

 middle feathers of the tail with a few bars : the 

 feathers on the thighs are very long, and of a 

 pure white; the legs of a pale blue, and fea- 

 thered a little below the knees. This kind is 

 sometimes found quite white: it was in high 

 esteem when falconry was in vogue, and used for 

 the noblest game, such as cranes and herons. 



TION. 



