PEREGRINE FALCON 355 



(which, as aheady mentioned, ma}' represent a permanent breeding'- 

 dress), while the streaks on the under-parts give place to transverse 

 barrings. Occasionally, however, white is the prevalent adult colour, 

 although only in northern species. 



The true falcons, constituting the genus Falco, belong to a group in 

 which the upper half of the beak has a distinct " tooth " on each side ; 

 and are specially characterised by the general similarity in the 

 colouring of the two sexes, the fairly large bodily size, the rounded 

 tail, the long second wing-quill, which exceeds all the rest in this 

 respect, and the much greater length of the first as compared with the 

 fourth quill. Another characteristic feature is the presence of a round 

 knob in the centre of the circular nostril. 



Falcons have a world-wide distribution, and are perhaps the 

 boldest of the whole tribe, attacking without hesitation birds and 

 even quadrupeds far superior to themselves in size, on which account 

 they have from time immemorial been employed in the sport of 

 hawking. As is well known, they attack by soaring high above their 

 intended prey, and then rushing down with one fell swoop, which if 

 unsuccessful is generally not repeated. The fatal blow is delivered 

 by means of the hind -claw, and not, as is often depicted, with 

 the beak. 



The peregrine is by far the finest and handsomest of the indigenous 

 British representatives of the group. On the present occasion it will 

 be unnecessary to point out in what respects this species differs from 

 some of its foreign representatives ; and it will suffice to state that it 

 belongs to a group in which the outer is larger than the inner toe, and 

 the first quill larger than the third and notched on its inner web. 



Size alone distinguishes the peregrine from other indigenous 

 British falcons, the female (which in falconry is alone termed 

 the falcon) measuring 1 8 inches in length and weighing as much 

 as 2 J lbs. ; while the male, or tiercel, attains a length of 1 5 

 inches with a weight of two or three ounces short of a couple 

 of pounds. In the adult plumage the upper-parts are slaty grey 

 with bars of darker grey ; the side of the head is marked by a 

 dark patch immediately above the neck, bounded in front by a dark 

 grey " moustache " extending downwards from the cheek ; and the 

 eyes are hazel, and the "cere" and legs bright yellow. Females differ 

 from males in the heavy transverse barring of the breast ; these bars 

 in the latter being very narrow, and often broken up into small spots 

 or dots. In immature birds the feathers of the upper surface are dark 

 greyish brown with paler margins, and those of the lower surface rustx- 



