THE PEREGRINE FALCON 159 
chickens, though it retires ignominiously before an angry hen. 
When pressed by hunger, it does not refuse the offal of animals, or 
dead fish; but being an expert fisherman, it does not confine itself 
to dead food of this kind, but pounces on such fish as it discerns 
floating near the surface of the water—carries them off in its talons, 
and devours them on shore. 
The Kite is more abundant in the northern than the southern 
countries of Europe, to which latter, however, numerous individuals 
migrate in autumn. It is of very rare occurrence in the southern 
counties of England, where no doubt it has gained discredit for 
many of the evil deeds of the Sparrow-Hawk. It builds its nest of 
sticks, lined with straw and moss, in lofty trees, and lays three or 
four eggs. A few still breed in some districts in Scotland, also in 
the wilder parts of Wales, but their eggs are, unfortunately, soon 
taken. 
Sus-Famiry FALCONIN/ZE 
THE PEREGRINE FALCON 
FALCO PEREGRINUS 
Tail not longer than the wings ; upper plumage dark bluish grey with darker 
bands ; head bluish black, as are also the moustaches descending from 
the gape ; lower plumage white ; breast transversely barred with brown ; 
beak blue, darker at the point; cere yellow; iris dark brown; feet 
yellow; claws black. Female—upper plumage tinged with brown, 
lower with reddish yellow. Length fifteen inches; female seventeen 
inches. Eggs dull light red, spotted and blotched with deep red. 
THE Peregrine Falcon occupies among the ‘ noble’ birds of prey a 
place second only in dignity to the Gyr Falcon. Indeed, from its 
being more generally diffused and therefore more easily obtained, 
it is a question whether it was not considered, in England, at least, 
the special bird of falconry. In France it appears to have been 
used almost exclusively as the Falcon of the country; and as the 
number of Gyr Falcons imported to England must have fallen far 
short of the demand when the gentle science was in full vogue, here 
also the Peregrine must be considered the bird of falconry. The 
‘noble’ Falcons were those which flew fearlessly on any birds, 
no matter how much larger they were than themselves, and at 
once deprived their prey of life by pouncing on a vital part, devour- 
ing the head before they lacerated the carcase. The name Peregrine 
(foreigner) was given to this bird on account of its wide dispersion 
through most regions of the globe, and for the same reason it has 
long borne in France the name of Pélerin (pilgrim), and not on 
account of its wide range in search of quarry. Itisa bird of haughty 
aspect and rich colouring, sagacious, powerful, and daring; a type 
