BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 167 



ORDER, ACCIPITRES (BIRDS-OF-PREY) ; 



Family, FALCONID^ (Falcons, &c.). 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON 



(Falco peregrinus). 

 Plate 53. 



Dimly the features of the coastal moorland stand out, 

 now vaguely visible, now obscured by a denser billow of 

 the chill sea - fog that has for hours been stealing 

 silently over the land. We tread warily on our cliff-top 

 path, for we can hear the alternate splash and gurgle of a 

 lazy sea hidden three hundred feet below us. The cliff- 

 edge air-currents are making endless sport with the fog- 

 wreaths, and the fantastic, ever-changing forms keep our 

 attention towards the void. Suddenly a vague, dark form 

 shoots rapidly upwards through the fog, reaches our level, 

 poises the merest instant within the restricted limits of clear 

 vision, resolving in the act into the shape of a strong, fierce 

 bird. One swift glance, and it doubles with a dexterous 

 twist ; a few whirling strokes of long, narrow wings, and 

 it has dashed with incredible speed into the mist. 



This is as much as we usually see of the Peregrine 

 Falcon, unless when we find it at its eyrie, for it is a 

 bird which wastes no time on its comings and goings. 

 Its long, narrow, curved wings are not suited for lazy, 

 soaring circles, and very nearly every yard of its way is 

 fairly won by rapid, forceful strokes. The same quality 

 of wing gives it amazing dexterity in turning and 

 doubling, and to this is added the wonderful accuracy 

 and precision of its every manoeuvre. It is not inferior 

 to the Swallow, scarcely to the Swift, in the excellence 



