Lot Essay
This Gryfalcon was described by Gould as 'Greenland Gyrfalcon dark-phased adult'.
Gould was puzzled by the variations of light and dark markings in the large northern falcons, and found that even dark falcons were so inconsistent in their markings that he had never seen two specimens alike.
Gould greatly admired Wolf's depictions of birds of prey, and especially valued the six illustrations of the Gyrfalcon which Wolf contributed to The Birds of Great Britain.
'I cannot conclude', he wrote, 'without calling attention to the admirable delineations of all these large northern Falcons, for which I am indebted to the pencil of Mr. Wolf, whose abilities as an artist are so justly celebrated, and who thoroughly understands the subject. I trust they will duly be appreciated by possessors of the present work...'
DISTRIBUTION: Breeding distribution circumpolar in Arctic. Winters south to southern Norway, Finland and Siberia; also Canada to about 50°N. Rare and irregular visitor to Britain. In Gould's time the Greenland Gyrfalcon was considered to be a separate species but it is now regarded as merely a geographical or colour variation of the Gyrfalcon
Gould was puzzled by the variations of light and dark markings in the large northern falcons, and found that even dark falcons were so inconsistent in their markings that he had never seen two specimens alike.
Gould greatly admired Wolf's depictions of birds of prey, and especially valued the six illustrations of the Gyrfalcon which Wolf contributed to The Birds of Great Britain.
'I cannot conclude', he wrote, 'without calling attention to the admirable delineations of all these large northern Falcons, for which I am indebted to the pencil of Mr. Wolf, whose abilities as an artist are so justly celebrated, and who thoroughly understands the subject. I trust they will duly be appreciated by possessors of the present work...'
DISTRIBUTION: Breeding distribution circumpolar in Arctic. Winters south to southern Norway, Finland and Siberia; also Canada to about 50°N. Rare and irregular visitor to Britain. In Gould's time the Greenland Gyrfalcon was considered to be a separate species but it is now regarded as merely a geographical or colour variation of the Gyrfalcon