NATURAL HISTORY 



Sub-family e. falconiitce. 

 FALCO. (Lat. a falcon.) 



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Gyrfalco (Lat.) the Gyrfalcon. 



The PEREGRINE FALCON, an inhabitant of most parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and South America, was, in the palmy days of 

 hawking, one of the favourite falcons chosen for that sport. 

 Its strength and swiftness are very great, enabling it to strike 

 down its prey with great ease ; indeed, it has been known to 

 disable five partridges in succession. From its successful pur- 

 suit of ducks the Americans call it the Duck Hawk. 



There is a peculiarity in the method of attack which this 

 bird employs when pursuing small game. Instead of merely 

 dashing at its prey, and grasping it with its claws, the Pere- 

 grine Falcon strikes its victim with its breast, and actually 

 stuns it with the violence of the blow before seizing it with 

 its claws. The boldness of the Peregrine Falcon is so great 

 that it was generally employed to take the formidable Heron. 



