44 ACCIPITRES. 



directly upwards, to fly against tlie wind. Never- 

 theless, tliere is an elegance in tlieir port and a bold- 

 ness in their aspect, which distinguishes them at a 

 glance, while their astonishing power of wing and 

 great muscular strength render them the noblest of 

 predaceous birds. They are extremely docile : they 

 may be taught to pursue game, and to return, when 

 called, to the hand of their master ; qualities of 

 which man has not failed to avail himseH". Among 

 the most celebrated species is the type of the race — 



The Peregrine Falcon {Falco j^eregrinus). This noble 

 bird is at once recognizable by a broad triangular mous- 

 tache of black feathers on the cheeks. It usually mea- 

 sures from fifteen to eighteen mches in length, and the 

 female is considerably larger than the male. Such is its 

 power of flight, that it may almost be said to be ubi- 

 quitous. It extends its range over the northern part of 

 })oth hemispheres, and is equally to be met with in the 

 United States of America, the south of Europe, India, 

 the Straits of Magellan, and the Cape of Good Hope. It 

 is from this celebrated species that the chase of game by 

 means of birds of prey derives its name. It descends 

 upon its prey vertically, as if it fell from the sky ; hence 

 it catches birds on the wing. In most districts, grouse 

 and partridges constitute its favourite food, and it is at 

 such game that it is taught to fly ; but m the vicinity of 

 water it destroys numbers of aquatic birds, swooping 

 down and carrying them ofl" in its talons. Rabbits and 

 leverets are also frequently destroyed by these marauders, 

 and their boldness is such that they have been known 

 to strike grouse sprung by the sportsman's dog before 

 they had risen high enough to be shot at. 



When searching after prey, this Falcon often adopts a 

 flight resembling that of the tame pigeon, until perceiving 

 its victim, it redoubles its flappmgs, and j^ursues the 

 fugitive with a rapidity scarcely to be conceived. Its 

 turnings and windings through the air are now surprising. 

 It follows and nears the timorous quarry at every turn 

 which the latter attempts. Arrived witlim a few feet of 

 the prey, the Falcon extends his powerful legs and talons 

 to their full stretch ; his wings almost close for a moment, 

 and the next instant he grapples his prize, which, if too 



