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Remarks (Gyrfalcons are so rare)

Gyrfalcons are so rare in collections that the descriptions here given can not be considered as applying to the species as a whole, but rather to the individuals from which the descriptions were taken. F. islandus is the lightest colored, and F. r. obsoletus is the darkest of our supposed four forms, while the others are intermediate between these two. 355. Falco mexicanus Schleg. PRAIRIE FALCON. Ad.-Above, grayish brown; primaries and inner webs of all but the middle tail-feathers with numerous buffy bars or spots; below, white, streaked and spotted with dark grayish brown. Im.-Similar, but with the upper parts margined with ochraceous-buff or buffy. & L., 17.00; W., 12-20; T., 7.00. Range.-Western United States, eastward casually to Illinois. Nest, on cliffs, sometimes in hollow trees. Eggs, two to five, "creamy white, vinaceous-white, or pale vinaceous-buffy, sprinkled, speckled, or irregularly spotted with madder-brown, 2.06 × 1.60" (Ridgw.). "The Prairie Falcon, as the name implies, is a typical plains bird, and inhabits the dry interior. ... "The flight of this Hawk is swift and graceful, though in most cases it is carried on at no great distance from the ground. It is not a shy bird, except in sections where it has been persecuted and has learned that man is its worst enemy" (Fisher). 356. Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonap.). DUCK HAWK. Ad.- Upper parts dark bluish slate-color; primaries barred with ochraceous; tail indistinctly barred with blackish and tipped with white; under parts creambuff, barred and spotted with black, except on the breast. Im. - Upper parts fuscous, more or less margined with ochraceous or rufous; region below the eye black; ear-coverts buffy; wings as in the ad.; upper surface of the tail barred with grayish, under surface barred with ochraceous-buff; under parts cream-buff or ochraceous-buff, streaked, spotted, or barred with black. ♂ L., 16.00; W., 12-25; T., 6.50; B. from N., 68. L., 19.00; W., 14:00; T., 7.50.