birds are very closely alike in plumage, there is a
constant difference of “ make ” and character between
them that would, I think, at once strike the eye of a
falconer; about the adult birds there can hardly be
any mistake.
The Gyr-Falcon is from all accounts resident in many
parts of Scandinavia, where it nests in cliffs and high
trees, and preys principally upon Ptarmigan and Water-
fowl. It must be locally abundant, as John Wolley
found upwards of twenty nests in West Pinmark ; and
the well-known falconer John Barr (who was sent to
Norway by Captain Dugmore and me some years ago
for the express purpose) succeeded in catching sixteen
fully fledged young birds of the year during a few
weeks’ stay in that country. This Falcon was held in
high repute by ancient falconers . but my small experience
with it goes to prove that it evidently requires a
large expanse of open country to enable it to put forth
its best qualities, and that it is practically useless
amongst enclosures. The flight of the few of this
species that I have seen on wing under the disadvantages
just mentioned, though strong and vigorous,
could not compare in speed with that of the Greenland
Falcon in the same circumstance; but I have never
seen the Gyr-Falcon in a wild state. One of these
birds was taken at Valkenswaard, in South Brabant,
many years ago to my certain knowledge, and is not, I
think, the only one that has been caught at the Hawk-
huts in that district; but its range of migration appears
to be far more limited than those of the Iceland and
Greenland Falcons.