174 THE Brrpos AxsouTt Us. 
“T have often, when walking under the trees where these half- 
torpid monarchs of the air sit side by side, fired and knocked one 
out from betwixt its neighbors without causing them the slightest 
alarm. . . . This eagle is by far the most abundant of the falcon 
tribe in British Columbia, and always a conspicuous object in ascend- 
ing a river; he is seated on the loftiest tree or rocky pinnacle, and 
soars off circling round, screaming like a tortured demon, as if in re- 
monstrance at such an impudent intrusion into its solitudes,”’ 
The Gyrfalcons are circumpolar birds, and one, the 
Gray Gyrfalcon, comes within our northern boun- 
daries in winter. They are superb birds, particularly 
the white one, which is often immaculate, but usually 
with some dark markings. 
Nuttall says of one variety of the gyrfalcon,— 
“Next to the eagle, this bird is the most formidable, active, and 
intrepid, and was held in the highest esteem for falconry. It boldly 
attacks the largest birds.” 
The Duck-hawk, or, as we sometimes hear it called, 
the Peregrine Falcon, is only common in limited 
localities, but may be found occasionally in every 
part of the continent. It has not been long since it 
was found nesting in a hemlock near the Delaware 
Water Gap in Pennsylvania, and “up” the river they 
seem to remain until early autumn, when they come 
“down” and are found sparingly about tide-water all 
winter, but especially do they seek the salt marshes 
and the sea-coast. Dr. Cooper says of one he saw 
on the Pacific coast, “I have seen one pursue a 
swallow, and, turning feet upward, seize it flying with 
perfect ease.” The common name duck-hawk comes 
from the fact that this bird preys upon wild fowl, and 
being so powerful and active, it can easily strike down 
a flying duck. 
