There are plates of Syrrhaptes in Radde's Reisen im Sueden von
Ost-Sibirien, Bd. II.; in vol. v. of Temminck, Planches Coloriees, Pl.
95; in Gould, as above; in Gray, Genera of Birds, vol. iii. p. 517
(life size); and in the Ibis for April, 1860. From the last our cut is
taken.
[See A. David et Oustalet, Oiseaux de la Chine, 389, on Syrrhaptes
Pallasii or Syrrhaptes Paradoxus. - H. C.]
[Illustration: Syrrhaptes Pallasii.]
NOTE 4. - Gerfalcons (Shonkar) were objects of high estimation in the
Middle Ages, and were frequent presents to and from royal personages. Thus
among the presents sent with an embassy from King James II. of Aragon to
the Sultan of Egypt, in 1314, we find three white gerfalcons. They were
sent in homage to Chinghiz and to Kublai, by the Kirghiz, but I cannot
identify the mountains where they or the Peregrines were found. The
Peregrine falcon was in Europe sometimes termed Faucon Tartare. (See
Menage s. v. Sahin.) The Peregrine of Northern Japan, and probably
therefore that of Siberia, is identical with that of Europe. Witsen speaks
of an island in the Sea of Tartary, from which falcons were got,
apparently referring to a Chinese map as his authority; but I know nothing
more of it.
