310 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



mens have been receivetl from the Cape of Good Hope, and it is only a question of 

 the technical differentiation of species whether it does not extend to Cape Horn. 

 Fearless as it is, and adaj)ting itself to almost every circumstance, it will form its cyry 

 equally on the sea-waslied cliffs, the crairiry mountains, or (tliough more rarely) the 

 drier spots of a marsh in the northern hiniisjihere, as on trees (says Schlegel) in the 

 forests of Jav;i, or the waterless ravines of Australia." 



Fig. 146. — Faico perfiirinii*, fwregiino fiilcoii. 



The American r.ico differs .slightly if at all in liahits from the better known Euro- 

 pean bird. It tlit'S with gival swiftness and witlio\it sailing, but when on the lookout 

 for i)roy rises easily in a sjiiral to a considerable height, whence it generally launches 

 itself like an arrow directly at its victim, which is usually killed almost instantly by 

 the clutch of the talons, and carried off to bo eaten at leisure. "When intent on its 

 quarry it becomes oblivious to everything else, ami its natural boldness is at all times 

 surprising. It not unfrequently makes its appearance at the report of a gun, and 

 carries off a wounded bird before the astonished si)ortsman can recover himself. In 



