PEREGRINE FALCON 297 



cepted them as they were flying over the Channel. 

 Placed on the edge of the cliff, I have watched a Pigeon 

 flying with steady rapid flight over the Downs, heading 

 southward across the sea. As the pigeon passes over the 

 cliffs the Falcon dashes out seaward from under the cliff; 

 the Pigeon sees its enemy and rises high in the air, the 

 Falcon mounts as well ; to the inexperienced eye the 

 Hawk appears to be flying in an opposite direction to 

 the Pigeon, but when he has gained the proper altitude 

 down he swoops like a bolt from the sky, but the Pigeon 

 eludes him by dropping with incredible rapidity to the 

 sea. Again the Falcon rises, its evident intention being 

 to drive the Pigeon to the shelter of the Kentish cliffs ; 

 the Pigeon, seeing its course across Channel barred by 

 its mortal foe, seeks the shelter of the undercliff. The 

 Falcon now has it all its own way, and the wings and 

 skeletons of Pigeons which I have found at the base of 

 the cliffs show what heavy toll the Peregrines levy on the 

 Belgium and French Homing Pigeons returning to the 

 Continent ; for in several instances I found the name 

 of the owner stamped upon the inside of the primary 

 wing-feathers of the Pigeon, which proved to be trained 

 birds belonging to Belgian owners." 



There are two Peregrines in the Canterbury Museum, 

 obtained in Kent in 1888, by Mr. AV. Oxenden Ham- 

 mond. J. F. Green, Esq., of the " Cedars," Lee, Kent, 

 has observed the Peregrine on that estate. 



A male Peregrine is in the possession of E. D. de 

 Uphaugh, Esq., of HoHingbourne House, Kent, which 

 he says, writing in July, 1906, was shot about tw^enty 

 years ago. 



