File:Hand-book to the birds of Great Britain (1894) (14563621828).jpg

Identifier: handbooktobirdso02shar (find matches)
Title: Hand-book to the birds of Great Britain
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Sharpe, Richard Bowdler, 1847-1909
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, Allen
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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, and forming only spotsor mottlings on the other feathers. I am at issue with some of our most distinguished ornitho-logists as to the changes of plumage through which the Green-land Gyr-Falcon passes in arriving at maturity. Many of thembelieve that the differences exhibited by a series of specimensare caused by there being a light and dark race, while I con-sider that every difference can be accounted for by the age ofthe bird. First of all, therefore, it is necessary to state that a Green- nised date from which British ornithologists start. Dr. Stejneger, however,says (Auk, ii. p. 185) that English authors, starting from the 12th editionof Linnceus, will have to call it Falco islanch(s, Fabricius, Faun. Groenl. p.58 (1780, ex Brilnn.). As, however, the name oi islaJichis is misleading,and has been referred to the Iceland Falcon by most European authors, itis far better to keep to the clearly-defined name of candicans^ about whichthere can be no doubt, and hence no confusion. PLATE
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GREENLAND FALCON THE GYR-FALCONS. 193 land Gyr-Falcon can be told, at any age, by its yellow bill, a?idby never having bars on the flanks. If a specimen comes fromGreenland with a blue bill and with cross-bars on the flanks,it is not a Greenland Gyr-Falcon, but Holboells Gyr-Falcon(Hiejofalco holboelli). All the Grey Gyr-Falcons, of which H.holboelli is a light arctic race, have blue bills a?id barred flanks.The above characters at once separate the Greenland GyrFalcon from the Grey Gyr-Falcons, H. gyrfalco and its allies,of which IT. holboelli is one. The young H. candica?is is a streaked bird with longihidinalbrown streaks on the flanks. Of this there can be no doubt;but many white birds are often transversely barred with black,while others are white, with longitudinal broad streaks in theprocess of breaking up into cross-bars or spots. This plumageI believe to be indicative of a chafige of pattern in the feather,which is effected without any moult. There is nothing wonderfulin this

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