F AL GO ISLANDICUS.
I CE LAND FAL CON.
FALCO ISLANDIOUS. Gmel. Syst! Nat., Vol., I,, p. 275, ( 1 7 8 ^ -O à s s in ;- % of Am., ¡p. 13.—Hancock. Ana. & Mag., Nat. Hist., 2nd.
•Ser., Vol.'XTpI., (1854), p.. 110.—Ibis. Vol. IV., (1862), p. 46.
FALCO GYRFALGO ISLANDIOUS. Sohleg. Mus. dTdst. Nat. des Pays-Bas, lime. Livr., p. 14.—Ib. Rev. Grit. Ois. d’Bur., Vol. I., p. 1.
Ibid. Trait, de Faucon) pl. 2.
A lth o u g h closely resembling the Greenland Falcon, the present .Bird is never in any stage of plumage as white as its relative.
Great confusion has existed 'ini the syuonomy of the three so-coMdered species of Jer-Falcons, and no one has contributed so much
information regarding tBem as Hancoqk, wjio, in thè paper quoted above, thus characterizes thè difference between this bird and the
F. Candicans: “ The former, (the Greenland Falcon), -in fact, may be stated to have white feathers with dark markings, the latter
dark feathers with white markings; besides that the mature Iceland Falcon is farther distinguished- by conspicuous transverse bands
above 11® on the flanks, and by the blue color of the beak and bright' yellow of the cere and feet.” Mr. Hancock derived his
information from observing the living birds in the gardens of the Zoological So c ie ty in London, and perceiving the changes undergone
by them in their different periods of moulting .
Though we may consider the true habitat of this fine Hawk to be the island from which it takes its name, yet it is not confined
withiu its boundaries, but is frequently found in Greenland, sometimes in Great Britain even, and also penetrates into the high northern
regions of our own continent, and has been known in severe winters to pass within the borders of the United States, 5
In the days, when, in the Old World, Falconry was the principal sport of the highest in the land, for it was eminently a royal pursuit,
the northern Falcons were greatly esteemed, and immense prices were often paid for a well-trained bird.
The flight ' of this Hawk is powerful, well sustained, and extremely rapid. Its prey consists of hares, rabbits, grouse, ptarmigan,
ducks, etc., which it strikes with its talons. If the quariy is a bird, and endeavors to escape by means of its wings, the Hawkby
repeated circlings executed with great ease aud beauty, mounts above its destined victim, and swooping upon it, bears it to the earth.
, Dr. Sclatee Writing about this bird in Wolf’s Zoological Sketches, says: “ In the days of the Danish Monarchy, .the Royal Falconer
sailed once every year to Iceland to receive the tribute of these noble Falcons, which had been taken from their nests for that purpose.
The high value, set upon such of these as survived the perils of the voyage, and the seventies consequent on the discipline
practised on them whilst in training, is a matter of history.”
Professor Sciilegel iu liis magnificent work entitled “ Traité dé Fauconnerie,” gives an account of this bird, a translation of which
I here insert: “Mr. Thieneman is the only traveller who lias furnished any facts regarding the manner of life of the Falcon in its wild
state. This naturalist states that these birds prefer to dwell during the summer in the interior- of the island of Iceland. They construct
their nests, composed entirely of branches, in the clefts of the most precipitous and inaccessible cliffs. The eggs are two to
three in number, a little larger than those of the Kite, the color resembling those of the Hobby, that is to say, a greenish white
covered with reddish brown spots of various sizes, more or less distinct.
“ At this time of the year, tho land and water birds, together with their young, become an easy prey to this Falcon, and thus they
provide abundantly for the met» of their oflspring ; but «* * • approach o f »inter, rvl.en the majority of the bird» hove migrated, this •
jhluo,, subsi.ta almost « M b * "l>™ ptarmigan. It visits then the bordera of the sort, end often come» to the dovecote» » pnouit of
the terne pigeon». Those wntoi-birils which are capable of diving do not fear his attack »hen they are swimming; bnt the , Ml into
the power of this dangerous enemy when he surprise» ' them perched upon the rock».”
, Adult. Upper parts white, Intnsversuly banded with dark brown. As is also the white tail. Quills brownish-black at their tips.
Under parta white, with generally a few longitudinal brovvpotihea.h Bill bine, claws browuisk-black. :-
Young Brown, transversely banded with white ; under parta whitish, profusely spotted with irregularly shaped marks of brown.
Primaries and tail dark brown, banded with dirli white.
The figure is life-size.