530 THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 



Recognition Marks. — Crow size: dark coloration: black ■'moustache"; long 

 pointed wings; swift, easy flight. 



Nesting. — Xcst: on ledges of clifl's, or in holUjw limbs of the tallest trees. 

 Eggs: 3 or 4, creamy-white, huffy, light hazel, or rich cinnamon-brown, in the 

 latter cases sometimes plain, otherwise finely sprinkled, spotted and blotched with 

 reddish brown or chocolate. .\v. size, 2.05 x 1.65 (52.1 X41.9). Season: c. Mao- 

 ist ; one brood. 



General Range. — North America at large and south to Chili. Breeds locally 

 thruont most of its United States range. 



Range in Washington. — Not common resident thruout the State, giving 

 place to I\ p. pealci at least upon West Coast. Local range chiefly determined 

 by presence of suitable cliff's overlooking water. 



Authorities. — ? Urn. Com. Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. VII., 1837, '93 C'^™'^' 

 the Columbia Liver"). Falco niqriceps, Cassin, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., \"ol IX., 

 1858, p. 8 (part?). T. L-'?. Ra.'O-'. B. E. 



Specimens. — Prov. B. 



THE name Duck Hawk is really a tribute to the skill and prowess of this 

 highly endowed bird ; but it is belittling, nevertheless, to in.stitute a com])arison, 

 however remote, between the noble Peregrine and the multitudinous "Hen 

 Hawk" of the vulgar conception. This is the PEREGRINE FAI.CoX. if 

 you please, the American bird being not different, save for a sonicwhal wliiler 

 breast (which only enhances his beauty ) from llie "falcon gentil" ot song and 

 story, the most courageous, the most s])irilc<l of all Ijirds of prey. Like the 

 Prairie Falcon, it secures an intended \-ictim either l)y striking it from above 

 and bearing it down to earth by its acquired momentum, or else by snatching 

 it from the ground with incredible swiftness. Many stories are told of its 

 seizing and making off with wounded game from under the very nose of the 

 hunter; and it is especially fearless in its pursuit of wild ducks, which it is said 

 to follow systematically for days at a time dming the migrations. 



It is undeniable that chickens occasionally fall victims to this dark corsair, 

 l)ut Bendire is of opinion that the Falcon rather disdains such sttipid quarry, 

 and is sure that thev sometimes engage in the jiursuit of poultry from sheer 

 mischief without intention of harm. Certainly the Peregrine need not deny 

 himself any luxury which bis appetite craves, and young meteors w^ould be 

 quite in his line if they were only a little more juicy. 



The Peregrines are not common in eastern \\'ashingt(in, being largely 

 .supplanted by F. vie.vicauus; and no instances of their nesting east of the 

 mountains ha\e come to our attention, ;dtho ihe\ imdoubtedly do so. In flight 

 they may be distinguished Ijv greater size and darker color, as well as by a 

 habit of rearing and itlunging. This cliaracteristic luotion consists of four or 

 five strong strokes wdiich send the bird forward and upward, after which it 

 nearly cliises its wings and makes a mlling ])hmge down to its original lc\el, 

 and repeats as before. 



