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NATURAL HISTORY. 



Peregiimis (Lat. wandering}, the Peregrine Falcon. 



After the Heron had been roused from his. contemplations by 

 some marsh or river, the Falcon, who had previously been 

 held hooded on its master's hand* "was loosed from its bonds 

 and cast off. A contest then generally took place between 

 the Heron and the Falcon, each striving to ascend above the 

 other. In this contest the Falcon was always victorious, and 

 after it had attained a sufficient altitude, it swept, or " stooped/' 

 as the phrase was, upon the Heron. When the Falcon had 

 closed with its prey, they both came to the ground together, 

 and the sportsman's business was to reach the place of con- 

 flict as soon as possible, and assist the Falcon in vanquishing 

 its prey. Sometimes, however, the wary Heron contrived to 

 receive its enemy on the point of its sharp beak, and transfixed 

 it by its own impetus. 



It changes the colour of its plumage several times before 

 it arrives at full maturity, and in the days of falconry was 

 known by different names, such as " haggard" when wild, 

 " eyass," " red falcon" when young, " tiercel" or " tassel-gentle" 

 when a full grown male ; a term forcibly recalling the words 

 of Juliet, " Oh for a falconer's voice, to lure this tassel-gentle 

 back again !" 



It builds on ledges of rocks, laying four eggs of a reddish 

 brown colour. Its length is from fifteen to eighteen inches. 



