" X ■ :
I C E L A N D F A L C O N , a d u lt Female.
Falco islandus, J . F. Gmelin.
ICELAND FALCON.
FALCO ISLANDUS, J. F. Gmelin.
Falco islandus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 271 (1788); Naum.
xiii. p. 22; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 46 ; Dresser, vi. p. 25.
Falco gyrfalco, Macg. iii. p. 284.
Falco islandicus, Hewitson, i. p. 22.
Gerfault Islandais, French; Isländischer Falke, German.
This Falcon, although it breeds in Iceland, and is by-
no means uncommon there, is, from all accounts, a less
frequent visitor to our Islands than the “ Greenlander; ”
but it is more than probable that there may be some
confusion of these two species in the published records
of occurrences, and the fact that there are two well-
marked and distinct races of the present species, apart
from the Gyr-Falcon of Scandinavia, F. gyrfalco, has no
doubt tended to complicate correct identification. From
having kept some of all the three northern Falcons in
captivity, I am convinced that the Icelander, and the
true Gyr-Falcon to which I have just alluded, are sufficiently
distinct to be entitled to rank as separate species,
although I am quite willing to admit that the immature
birds are so much alike that no falconer, however experienced,
could pronounce a decisive opinion upon their