204 



The Irish Naturalist. 



October, 



was climbing in the vicinity of their nest, which was built on 

 a lofty precipice on the borders of Point Lake, 65*^. Th(iy 

 flew in circles, uttering loud and harsh screams, and alter- 

 nately swooping with such velocity, that their motion through 

 the air produced a loud rushing noise ; they struck their 

 claws within an inch or two of my head. I endeavoured by 

 keeping the barrel of my gun close to my cheek, and suddenly 

 elevating its muzzle when they were in the act of striking, to 

 ascertain whether they had the power of instantaneously 

 changing the direction of their rapid course, and found they 

 invariably rose above the obstacle with the quickness of 

 thought, showing equal acuteness of vision and power of 

 motion; although their flight was much more rapid, they 

 bore considerable resemblance to the Snowy Ov/1." Sir John 

 also remarks that at the season which he saw them, the 

 ground was still partially covered with snow, and the lakes 

 with ice, but that this bird, like the owl just mentioned, is 

 well adapted, " from the whiteness of its plumage, for travers- 

 ing a snowy waste without alarming the birds on which it 

 preys." And further that when the falcon pounces upon a 

 flock of Ptarmigan, the latter endeavour to save themselves 

 by diving instantly into the loose snow, and making their 

 way into it a considerable distance. 



The photograph (plate 6) which accompanies this paper 

 represents the Iceland Falcon in the centre, and shows very 

 clearly the dark ground with the pale edge-marking. The 

 bird on the right hand is a singularly beautiful adult male 

 Greenland Falcon, head, breast, and tail spotless white, while 

 the back and wings are dotted over with transverse dark spots, 

 the legs and cere a very pale yellow. The bird on the left is 

 an immature female Greenlander, showing the dark markings 

 of immaturity. 



Dublin. 



