PEREGRINE FALCON. Igg 



to eighteen inches, the females from nineteen to twen- 

 ty-three ; so tliat in this species the sexes differ more 

 than in most others. The differences in the tints and 

 marking's are also very considerable, although not such 

 that one whojiad studied the form and general appear- 

 ance of a pair, could hesitate in recognising any indi- 

 vidual of the species. Adult males vary but slight- 

 ly. The head varies from greyish-black to brownish- 

 black; the bluish-grey of the back is deeper or lighter; 

 sometimes the upper part only, sometimes nearly the 

 whole of the fore neck is white, without spots. The 

 older the individual the smaller the spots and bars, and 

 the more decided the ash-grey of the hind lower parts. 

 The females vary from greyish-brown to brownish-grey, 

 or even to bluish-grey on their upper parts, which are 

 generally less distinctly barred than in the males. The 

 lower parts are generally yellowish or brownish-white, 

 and have very little of a grey tinge behind. Their 

 markings, which are generally larger than in the male, 

 do not vary materially. 



Habits. — The Peregrine Falcon, being a very pow- 

 erful bird, possessed of great courage and activity, 



" For foat of strength or exercise, 

 Shaped in proportion fair,"' 



and withal docile and easily reclaimed, was a great fa- 

 vourite with the " warrior kings," " proud earls," " ba- 

 rons bold," and nobles of all degrees, in the happy days 

 of old, when the iron-cased knight and his squires 

 went about dealing out their dole of christian charity 

 to their fellow creatures. 



