FALCONS. 
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the Iceland falcon (F. islandicus) the beak and claws are of a dusky horn colour, 
and the plumage darker than the last; its ground-colour being brown in the young 
and grey in the adult. Moreover, in the adult the flanks have transverse arrow¬ 
head dark bars, and the tail is likewise barred; the crown of the head being lighter 
coloured than the back. In young birds the dark markings on the under-parts 
are longitudinal; this change from longitudinal to transverse bars being common 
in the group. The home of this bird is Iceland, from which a certain number of 
individuals migrate to the south-east, a few from time to time reaching Britain. 
The Norway, or true gerfalcon (F. gyrfalco), is a somewhat larger bird than the last, 
with the crown of the head as dark as or even darker than the back, and the whole 
tone of the plumage tending more to brown. It has also frequently a distinct 
cheek-stripe; while the wings are relatively longer, and the tail shorter. This 
falcon inhabits all Northern Europe and Asia, as well as North America, and 
migrates southwards in winter, although not reaching Britain. It is replaced on the 
Labrador coast by the still darker Labrador falcon. The habits of all the gerfalcons 
are probably very similar; although, from the general absence of trees in its native 
country, the Greenland species is compelled to breed exclusively on cliffs, while the 
others often resort to trees. The eggs are usually three or four in number, and are 
of a creamy white ground-colour, blotched with cinnamon or reddish brown. All 
of them are extremely shy, but display great boldness in defence of their nest, 
circling round the head of the aggressor with loud screams. When sitting on its 
nest in the snow, with its white breast lowards the hunter, the Greenland falcon 
will often escape detection. Their prey consists chiefly of water-fowl and ptarmigan. 
Gerfalcons, and especially the white kind, were formerly much esteemed in 
falconry, and commanded high prices; the white Greenland falcons imported to 
the Continent being captured in Iceland. Although larger and more powerful 
birds, all the gerfalcons lack the supreme dash and “ go ” of the peregrine; and 
their former estimation was probably mainly owing to their size and beauty. 
The large and handsome falcon, known as the saker (Falco 
Sd<li6r Falcon ^ 
sacer), a term apparently derived from the Arabic, is a southern 
form, agreeing with the gerfalcons in the proportionate length of its toes and 
wings, but differing markedly in its plumage. In length the male saker measures 
upwards of 18^- inches, while the female falls but little short of 25 inches. By 
this large size and the relative length of the claws, the saker may be readily 
distinguished from all the other falcons of Europe and Asia. In its ordinary 
dress, as shown in the accompanying figure, it is further characterised by the 
upper surface of the tail - feathers, instead of being completely barred, having 
whitish bars on the inner webs, and spots on the outer ones; these spots being 
especially marked in the middle pair. Then again the cheek-stripe, if present at 
all, is very narrow. The head is pale rufous, sometimes turning nearly white, with 
narrow black stripes along the middle of the feathers. The general colour of the 
upper-parts is pale brown, with the feathers margined with rufous; while the 
■quills are darker brown, with white or rufous markings, and the pale tail ornamented 
in the manner noticed. The sides of the face and throat are white; while the rest 
■of the under-parts are whitish, with longitudinal streaks of brown, which are 
largest on the flanks and abdomen. The cere and feet are yellow, while the beak 
