90 ' THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



The falcons proper are distinguished from the gyr-faleons by a tooth more strongly 

 defined on each side of the upjter mandible, which amongst the others is a mere festoon ; 

 the lower mandible is also much more sloped at its point than the true falcons. 



In the species of both sections we discover certain general characters. The head and 

 neck are clothed with feathers, the brows form a projection which makes the eye appear 

 sunk, and the female is one-third larger than the male. But the falcons, more coiu-- 

 ageous in proportion to their size, and therefore teiTned " noble birds of prey," have 

 pecuhar habits resulting from the length of the wings, wliich, in a calm air, render their 

 flight very oblique, and forces them, when they want to rise directly, to fly against the 

 wind. They are also more docile, and better for the purposes of falconry, being more 

 easily taught to pursue the game and to come when called. 



The Common Falcon is about the size of a hen. It is common in France, and is also 

 found in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and in several islands of the 

 Mediterranean, among which are Malta, Cyprus, and Rhodes. It always prefers moun- 

 tainous and rocky countries, and is, perhaps, the most courageous of all bu'ds in propor- 

 tion to its size. Instead of approaching its prey sideways, like the hawk, and some 

 other birds of the same order, it drops perpendicularly upon it, devours it on the spot if 

 it be large, and if it be not too heavy, the falcon carries ofi" its victim, rismg with it 

 perpendicularly in the air. It frequently attacks the kite, either to deprive that bird of 

 its prey or to task its own courage. Such are the habits which have always been con- 

 sidered pecuhar to the falcon. 



It is in the clifis of the most rugged rocks exposed to the south, and in high moun- 

 tains, that the falcon most fretjuently establishes its eyrie. There the female lays three 

 or four eggs of a reddish yellow, with brown spots. Cuvier tells us that in France the 

 little ones are hatched towards the middle of the month of May. As soon as they are able 

 to obtain nutriment for themselves, the parents not only drive them from the nest, but 

 force them to quit that particular district, reserving it entu-ely for themselves. 



A correspondent of M. Vieillot supphcd that naturalist with some observations, made 

 in the plains of Champayne, where the falcons arrive in the month of August. He 

 states that he has seen these birds hunting singly, or in couples, and darting with 

 extreme rapidity from a liillock of earth, or the low branch of a tree, the instant they 

 perceived a flock of partridges. On such occasions, the falcon followed the flock, crossed 

 it, and in jiassing, endeavoured to seize a partridge in its claws, or to give it so violent 

 a shock with its 'breast as to stun, or even kill the bird. It returned sometimes after 

 this shock, with so much agUity, as to catch and carry oiF the partridge before it had 

 fallen ; and if it did not reach it imtil the prey came to the ground, it generally ate it 

 on the spot, or took it behmd an adjacent bush. According to this gentleman, the falcon 

 does not follow the partridges on foot, but endeavours to cause theii- rising by shaving 

 the earth, and making a noise like the whistling of a bullet. The falcon, though passing 

 and repassing many tunes, docs not always succeed in his attempts, the partridges 8(piat- 

 ting down, or concealing themselves in tlio })ushcs. It also gives chase to other birds, 

 as pheasants, larks, thrushes, pigeons, and even ducks, which dive into the water tho 

 moment they see their enemy. 



The falcon is very long-lived. One of these liirds, belonging to James I., in 1610, 

 with a gold collar bearing that date, was found in 1793, at tho Cape of Good Hope. 

 This bird, though more than a luui<lred and eighty years did, still possessed considerable 

 vigour. 



