THE PEEEGEINE FALCON. 



FALCO PEREGRINUS. 



Tail not longer than the wings ; upper plumage dark bluish grey with darker 

 bands ; head bluish black, as are also the moustaches descending from the 

 gape ; lower plumage white ; breast transversely barred with brown ; beak 

 blue, darker at the point ; cere yellow ; iris dark brown ; feet yellow ; claws 

 black. Female — Upper -Dlumage tinged with brown, lower with reddish yeUow. 

 Length fifteen inches, femaU seventeen inches. Eggs dull light red, spotted 

 and blotched with deep red. 



The Peregrine Falcon occu]3ies among the " noble " birds 

 of prey a place second only in dignity to the Gyr Falcon. 

 Indeed, from its being more generally diffused and there- 

 fore more easily obtained, it is a question whether it was 



