THE LANNER. 



59 



as the bird was at the same moment making a ' ' stoop ' ' upon the bird, one of the leaden 

 pellets struck the Falcon, and inflicted a slight wound. 



The dash and fury with which this hawk makes its stoop is almost incredible. In a coast 

 town a part of a greenhouse had been divided off by wire, so as to form an aviary, the roof of 

 the aviary being the glass tiling of the greenhouse. In this edifice were placed a number of 

 small birds, which attracted the attention of a Peregine Falcon that was passing overhead. 

 Totally unmindful of all obstacles, he shot crashing through the glass without injuring himself 

 in the least, seized one of the terrified birds, and carried it off in safety. Several other birds 

 were found dead, apparently from fright, or perhaps by the shock of the hawk and glass 

 which came flying among their number. 



It is said that when the Peregrine Falcon takes up its residence near the moors it is a very 

 mischievous neighbor, slaughtering annually great numbers of grouse. Although very fond 

 of pigeons and similar game, the Peregrine Falcon seems to have sufficient sporting spirit to 

 prefer the grouse to the pigeon, and never to trouble itself about the latter bird as long as it 

 has a chance of obtaining one of the former. 



The American Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus\ called also Duck Hawk, is one of the 

 most graceful and powerful of the race. It is found over the entire continent and adjacent 

 islands. A northern variety is thought to be identical with the European species. 



This bird is a resident of New England throughout the year, usually seen on the sea 

 shore ; its trivial name indicates its favorite prey. It is a very powerful and swift flyer, the 

 terror of water-fowl, its legiti- 

 mate prey. It abounds in con- 

 siderable number in Labrador. 

 Audubon found them breed- 

 ing on the same rocks with 

 cormorants. With the hunter 

 along our coast this bird has a 

 reputation for most extraordi- 

 nary daring. He rushes with 

 intense impetuosity upon his 

 prey, and often strikes it dead 

 before it reaches the ground. 

 He is known to attack wild 

 geese and bear them down 

 from the flock as they pass 

 over at considerable height. 



This is the bird par excel- 

 lence known in heraldry. It 

 is graceful and sagacious in 

 aspect. Two prominent char- 

 acters distinguish it from other 

 species : abroad patch of black 

 below the eye, and very large 

 feet. Its extent of wing is 

 three feet eight inches. It is 

 notable that this bird is con- 

 siderably smaller than several 

 of the buzzards that feed on 

 the insignificant insect food. 



THE true LANNER (Falco 

 lanarius) is a native of north- 

 ern Europe. It is a rather large bird, considerably exceeding the Peregrine Falcon in its 

 dimensions, and being little inferior in size to the Jerfalcon itself. This bird was formerly 



