300 FALCO PEREGRINUS. 



Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel, Merlin, and Buzzard. I have ex- 

 amined about fifty individuals, of which more than ten were 

 recent and entire, so that if my descriptions are not correct, I 

 deserve the censure of " the candid critic." ISIy opportuni- 

 ties of studying the living birds have enabled me to offer the 

 following remarks. 



The flight of the Peregrine Falcon is very rapid, being per- 

 formed by quickly repeated beats, much in the manner of the 

 Rock Dove. In searching for prey, it does not fly so low as 

 the Sparrow Hawk or Hen Harrier, nor does it glide among 

 trees, but keeps to the open country, scouring the hills and 

 moors, and, on discovering a fit object, pouncing upon it in 

 perpendicular or slanting descent, or pursuing it in direct 

 flight, but always keeping above its quarry until a favourable 

 opportunity of clutching it occurs. It may be occasionally 

 seen balancing itself in the air, but it seldom floats or as it 

 were sails in circles, like the Eagles, Buzzards, and other rapa- 

 cious birds which have long, broad, and rounded wings. Its 

 speed must be very great, and has been variously estimated at 

 sixty or a hundred and fifty miles an hour, and yet it does not 

 much exceed that of a Pigeon. Even a Grouse, which the 

 closet-naturalists tell us is ill adapted for rapid flight, is not 

 overtaken by a Peregrine in a moment. I have in my mind 

 a vivid picture of a chase which I witnessed on the Pentland 

 Hills. One day when reclining among the heath I was aroused 

 by a sudden noise, and on looking up observed two Red Grouse 

 advance over an eminence and shoot obliquely downward across 

 the face of the hill with marvellous speed, and without utter- 

 ing any cry, although there was a loud sound from their wings. 

 As I was wondering what could be the cause of all this head- 

 long hurry, a Peregrine Falcon appeared on the eminence, and 

 shot along with easier and more rapid flight, after the grouse, 

 which soon disappeared round the hill, so that I could not see 

 the result of the chase. The Brown Ptarmigan or Red Grouse, 

 and the Grey Partridge are with us its favourite victims ; but 

 it also feeds on Black Grouse, Pheasants, IMallards, Teal, 

 Pigeons, Gulls, Pufiins, Auks, Guillemots, rabbits, and young 

 hares. It has been seen to feed upon a dead sheep, but this 



