550 
BIRD-LIFE. 
of northern latitudes were, however, held in the greatest 
estimation, and fetched the highest prices. 
These splendid creatures, now divided by modern 
naturalists into several distinct species, are undoubt¬ 
edly kings among Falcons. They are larger than any 
other species at home or abroad, and have the noblest 
bearing and appearance : the breast is round and power¬ 
ful ; the shoulders are broad; the wings long and 
pointed; the tail long and wedge-shaped; the beak is 
short, thick, and notched; the short, straight legs are 
furnished with long toes, terminating with sharp and 
pointed claws. The entire length of the bird ranges from 
twenty-five to twenty-eight inches, and the expanse of 
wing from four and a half to five feet; the powerful tail is 
from nine to ten inches in length. The younger birds 
are all dark in plumage, that of the lower portion of the 
body alone being of a yellow tinge, spotted with dark 
brown longitudinal spots; as the bird gets older its 
plumage becomes lighter,—one species becoming almost 
snow-white, with the exception of a few black stripes and 
spots. They are natives of the more northern parts of 
Europe and America; of Iceland, Lapland, Siberia, and 
Greenland. They live among the mountains, from whence 
they wander on all sides in search of prey. It is rare that 
these Falcons quit their sterile homes, and come as far 
as the south of Sweden; and still less frequently do they 
visit North Germany, and then only in autumn or 
winter. 
All Falcons are perfect specimens of nobility, but the Ice¬ 
land and Greenland birds bear off the palm from amongst 
the entire family. One cannot help admiring these bold, 
noble creatures: the expanse of heaven is their home, 
the chase their pleasure; their life is one long battle, full 
