ICELAND FALCON. 



FALCO ISLANDUS, /. F. Gmelin. 



Falco islandus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 271 (1788) ; Naum. 



xiii. p. 22 ; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 46 ; Dresser, vi. p. 25. 

 Falco gyrfalco, Macg. iii. p. 284. 

 Falco islandicus, Heivitson, i. p. 22. 



Gerfault Islandais, French; Islandischer Fulke, German. 



This Falcon, although it breeds in Iceland, and is by- 

 no means uncommon there, is, from all accounts, a less 

 frequent visitor to our Islands than the " Greenlander ; " 

 but it is more than probable that there may be some 

 confusion of these two species in the published records 

 of occurrences, and the fact that there are two well- 

 marked and distinct races of the present species, apart* 

 from the Gyr-Falcon of Scandinavia, F. gyrfalco, has no 

 doubt tended to complicate correct identification. From 

 having kept some of all the three northern Falcons in 

 captivity, I am convinced that the Icelander, and the 

 true Gyr-Falcon to which I have just alluded, are suffi- 

 ciently distinct to be entitled to rank as separate species, 

 although I am quite willing to admit that the immature 

 birds are so much alike that no falconer, however expe- 

 rienced, could pronounce a decisive opinion upon their 



