GYRFALCON. 
51 
ing a central tubercle. Feet strong; tarsi rather short; toes 
strong and considerably extended; nails long, sharp, and curved. 
The wings long ; the 1st primary equal in length to the 3d ; 
the 2d longest ; the 1st and 2d have an abrupt emargination on 
the inner web near their extremities. 
These exist wholly on living prey, and show great address in seiz- 
ing or surprising it ; pursuing birds swiftly, or pouncing directly up- 
on them from above. They nest usually in the crevices of rocks, 
ruins, or hollow trees. These were the species used in Fal- 
conry, and called noble because of the high prerogative of those who 
followed this amusement. The smaller species live much on insects 
or reptiles. In the island of Java their exists a species of this divi- 
sion no larger than a lark. 
GYRFALCON. 
( Falco islandicus , Latham. Ind. Orn. v. i. p. 32. sp. 69. [the adult], 
and Falco gyrfalco. Ibid. Ind. v. i. p. 32. sp. 68. [the young.] ) 
Spec. Charact. — Cere and round the eyes livid yellow; feet yel- 
low ; plumage white, lined and spotted with brown ; iris brown ; 
bands of the tail 12 to 14. — Female more spotted, also banded on 
the flanks. — Young. Upper plumage greyish-brown, with small 
white terminal spots ; feet plumbeous, slightly inclining to yel- 
low; cere light bluish. 
This elegant and celebrated falcon is about 2 feet in 
length ; the female 2 or 8 inches longer. They particu- 
larly abound in Iceland and Greenland, and are fouud 
also throughout Siberia, and the North of Europe ; Mr. 
Hutchins, according to Pennant, saw them commonly 
about Fort Albany, at Hudson’s Say. Occasionally a 
pair is also seen in this vicinity in the depth of winter. 
They brave the coldest climates, for which they have 
such a predilection as seldom to leave the arctic regions ; 
the younger birds are commonly seen in the North of 
Germany, but very rarely the old, which are readily dis- 
