54 



HARD WICKE 'S S CIENCE • G O SSIF. 



The Peregrine never frequents swamps of any 

 description — always rocky ground. In Thompson's 

 "Natural History of Ireland," vol. i. p. 35, we find 

 4he following: — "On two occasions I had oppor- 

 tunities of remarking this falcon (Peregrine) in haunts 

 similar to those which, according to Wilson, it frequents 

 in America." These, however, are not mentioned as a 

 general habit, but rather as exceptional cases. Mr. 

 Mudie says "the Peregrine seldom nestles in low 

 countries and never in marshy ones. " Again, Wilson 

 says it constructs its nest on tall trees. The Peregrine 

 has never been known to construct its nest on a tree 

 of any sort, — always on the rocks. 



Besides, the natural disposition of the Peregrine 

 leads it to frequent the rocky parts of the seashore 

 or inland lakes, rather than the swampy parts of a 

 country. Not having skins of the two birds at hand, 

 I am not able to point out the difference which I feel 

 quite sure exists, for Mr. Thompson says ' ' that the 

 American birds are larger than the European and of 

 a darker shade of colour." I think, however, I have 

 pointed out the chief differences between the two 

 birds. How a great naturalist like Wilson could 

 liave pronounced birds with habits and haunts so 

 strikingly at variance with each other to be the same, 

 I cannot say ; but such it is. Be it as it may, the Duck 

 Hawk is not very abundant in the United States, 

 because Mr. Wilson experienced great difficulty in 

 procuring a specimen. 



The Peregrine, however, is not the largest of the 

 Falconidie ; the Gyr (including Iceland and Green- 

 land Falcon) being only superior to it in size and 

 perhaps in spirit, but certainly not in the ease and 

 gracefulness of its flight. The Peregrine is also a 

 KDUch more numerous species than the Gyr. Seven 

 species of falcons are to be foond in the British isles ; 

 Tiz. the Gyr {Faico islandkus), Greenland Falcon 

 {Falco candicans) — (these two were long confounded 

 as one and the same bird, until Mr. Hancock took 

 the matter in hand, ably proving, by the aid of 

 numerous specimens of both species, the distinction. 

 Rev. J. O. Morris, in his " British Birds," says he 

 "cannot see it,"and puts them both under one name — 

 the Gyr), — Peregrine [Fako peregrinus), Hobby {Falco 

 subbutco), Red-legged Falcon ■ {Fako rufipcs). 

 Merlin {Fako czsalon), and the Kestrel {Fako 

 Tinmmcidus). 



The Peregrine, like numerous other birds of prey, 

 appears to be less abundant than it really is ; yet in 

 no place is it any way numerous. Over the British 

 isles it is generally diffused, and is found in 

 fcivourable situations either on the coast or in the 

 interior ; but chiefly the former. It has been said 

 that every rocky headland around our coast contains 

 a pair of "Blue Hawks." This will show that it is 

 laot rare ; but if the persecution against all species of 

 falcons or hawks goes on at the rate it has done, 

 we shall have reason in the course of a few years 

 time to regret the absence of the Peregrine from our 



coast scenery. The Peregrine is most abundant in 

 Scotland, particularly on its northern and western 

 shores. In Ireland, Mr. Thompson says, ' ' it in- 

 habits suitable localities throughout the island, both 

 marine and inland." In our country — England — it 

 is least numerous ; Flamborough Head, on the coast 

 of Yorkshire, is said to breed at least one pair every 

 year ; so does the Needles in the Isle of Wight ; the 

 Isle of Man ; and in a few other situations round the 

 English coast it is known to bring up its young. 



The chief attraction which lures the Peregrine to 

 the seacoast is the numerous seafowl there to be 

 found. According to different authors, it is found in- 

 habiting the whole of Europe and many parts of the 

 adjoining continents of Asia and Africa. 



The Peregrine is rather an early breeder, com- 

 mencing operations about the end of March or begin- 

 ning of April. The nest, or eyrie, as it is termed, is 

 placed on those rocks, either on the coast or more 

 inland, which are most precipitous and inaccessible. 

 It spends a deal of time near its nest, occasionally 

 taking a long flight. The nest is a slovenly structure, 

 with very little or no beauty about it, except in its 

 adaption to the wildness of the surrounding scenery. 

 It is built of sticks intennixed with sea- weed and other 

 such-like coarse materials. It is lined with sea-weed 

 or a little hair, or perhaps the nest is entirely without 

 lining of any description. Sometimes the Peregrine 

 takes possession of the nest of the Raven {Coi-z'ks 

 corax). It is situated on some portion of the pre- 

 cipice jutting out into the sea, or perhaps in a crevice. 

 Wherever it is placed, it is used by the birds for a 

 succession of years. Sometimes no nest at all is 

 made, the eggs being deposited on the bare rock. 

 The eggs are laid very early in spring and are from 

 two to four in number; two and three being the 

 general number ; and when there are more, one is 

 smaller than the remainder ; probably one of them is 

 addled, though four young birds have been taken 

 from one nest, all being of equal size. This was an 

 exception to the general rule. The eggs are of an 

 extremely beautiful and elegant colour. The ground- 

 colour (often not perceptible on account of the pre- 

 dominance of the markings with which the egg is 

 profusely marbled) is of a light reddish-brown, with 

 blotches, streaks, and dots of a still darker shade, ele- 

 gantly distributed over the surface of the egg. The 

 older the parent bird, the darker, richer, more 

 abundant will be the colouring matter on the egg. 

 Indeed this rule applies to all species of the Falconidse. 

 It is no easy matter to procure either the young or 

 the eggs of this falcon, on account of the situation 

 chosen, and one has need of a strong nerve, a cool 

 head, and a steady arm before he can essay an attempt. 

 The way in which they are generally taken is by a 

 man being lowered from the summit of the rocks by 

 means of a rope ; sometimes, however, the nest is so 

 situated that an expert climber would have no diffi- 

 culty in procuring them without the aid of ropes. 



