54 BIRDS OF PREY. 



the young acquire their full growth by the middle of 

 May. They are supposed to breed in the tall trees of 

 the desolate Cedar swamps in New Jersey; which ap- 

 pears to be a situation very different from their usual 

 choice in Europe. When the young have attained 

 their growth, the parents drive them from their haunts, 

 with incessant and piercing screams and complaints, an 

 unnatural propensity which nothing but dire necessity, 

 the difficulty of acquiring sustenance, alone can palliate. 



In strength and temerity, the Falcon is not exceeded 

 by any bird of its size. He soars with easy and grace- 

 ful motions amidst the clouds or clear azure of the sky ; 

 from this lofty elevation he selects his victim from among 

 the larger birds, Grous, Pheasants, Pigeons, Ducks, or 

 Geese. Without being perceived, he swiftly descends, 

 as if falling from the clouds in a perpendicular line, and 

 carries terror and destruction into the timid ranks of his 

 prey. Instead of flying before their relentless enemy, 

 the Partridge and Pheasant run and closely hide in the 

 grass, the Pigeons glance aside to avoid the fatal blow^ 

 which is but too sure in its aim, and the water fowls 

 seek a more certain refuge in diving beneath their yield- 

 ing element. If the prey be not too large, the Falcon 

 mounts into the air, bearing it off in his talons, and then 

 alights to gorge himself with his booty at leisure. Some- 

 times he attacks the Kite, another fellow plunderer, 

 either in wanton insult, or more probably to rob him of 

 his quarry. 



The name of Wandering or Passenger Falcon was ap- 

 plied to the darkest individuals, a character merely de- 

 pending on age. These frequently migrate across the 

 Mediterranean from the islands to the neighbouring con- 

 tinent, and hence were looked upon as foreign. They 

 do not, however, essentially differ from the common spe- 



