310 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



mens have been received from the Cape of Good Hope, and it is only a question of 

 the technical differentiation of species whether it does not extend to Cape Horn. 

 Fearless as it is, and adapting itself to almost every circumstance, it will form its eyry 

 'equally on the sea-washed cliffs, the craggy mountains, or (though more rarely) the 

 drier spots of a marsh in the northern hemisphere, as on trees (says Schlegel) in the 

 forests of Java, or the waterless ravines of Australia." 



, FlG. 146. Falco peregrinus, peregrine falcon. 



The American race differs slightly if at all in habits from the better known Euro- 

 pean bird. It flies with great swiftness and without sailing, but when on the lookout 

 for prey rises easily in a spiral to a considerable height, whence it generally launches 

 itself like an arrow directly at its victim, which is usually killed almost instantly by 

 the clutch of the talons, and carried off to be eaten at leisure. When intent on its 

 quarry it becomes oblivious to everything else, and its natural boldness is at all times 

 surprising. It not unfrequently makes its appearance at the report of a gun, and 

 carries off a wounded bird before the astonished sportsman can recover himself. In 



