IN PURSUIT OF PREY. 



97 



the falcon, instead of turning round to secure her prey, as she would 

 have done with a partridge, was content with her victory and came 

 straight to the lure. 



Another day, when we were exercising her, she flew wide and 

 disappeared, probably to bathe. On going home, knowing that she- 

 would soon appear there, I heard her bells at a distance, but rapidly 

 approaching with that peculiar running chime so sweet to a falconer, 

 as shewing that the hawk is at full speed, and must have a quarry 

 before her. The next instant she came in sight, sweeping a flock of 

 pigeons homeward before her from the stubbles ; just as they got over 

 the plantations she stooped, when two pigeons fell down through the 

 high trees to the ground as if shot, though both untouched. A third 

 took refuge in a bed-room by entering at an open window. The 

 hawk then throwing herself up to a great height and making a cir- 

 cuit or two, came down like a falling star on seeing the lure ; and 

 was soon receiving her reward in a good meal of beef upon her block. 



But, sat superque de Columbist nor would I have said so much 

 about the peregrine's pursuit of this one bird, were it not that, in its 

 wild state, the pigeon is so numerous a species in the south of Europe, 

 on the cliffs both of the ocean, and of the Mediterranean Sea, with 

 all its rocky isles and headlands. 



We cannot doubt, that to prey on the rock pigeon in those regions 

 must be pleasant pastime for the falcons bred in the Highlands of 

 Scotland, the Hebrides, and the west coast of Norway, after they 

 leave our Northumbrian moorsides and proceed southward. These 

 hawks being swift enough to overtake, and strong enough to hold and 

 quickly strangle the pigeon in question, are perhaps one of the 

 checks ordained to keep down its numbers, and prevent infirm and 

 weakly individuals from perishing by a slow and lingering end. We 

 see such a beneficent provision on all sides in Nature. Rapacious 

 qradrupeds and birds of prey are no longer supposed to be mere 

 scourges to the creation, but one of its most merciful means for pro- 

 viding against protracted sufferings. 



I will now close a communication so much too long for the little 

 pith and substance imparted. Having begun the subject, and got 

 over the prolixity, so difficult to avoid in bringing it to bear intelli- 

 gibly on the natural history of the peregrine, I will hope for some 

 future opportunity of making shorter extracts from my memoranda 

 of the bird's prowess after other kinds of prey. She, or her helpmate, 

 the tercel, fly keenly in pursuit of many different birds, and espe- 



B. N. C. VOL. II. NO. XII. H 



