160 THE PEREGRINE FALCON 
of the chivalry of the Middle Ages, a veritable knight-errant, always 
armed, and ready to do battle in any cause against all comers. 
In France the Peregrine Falcon is most abundant in the marshy 
districts of the north, which are much frequented by Snipes and 
Wild Duck; with us it is most commonly seen in those parts of the 
sea-coast where sea-fowl abound. The high cliffs of the Isle of 
Wight, Beachy Head, North Wales, and the Scottish coast have 
been favourite haunts, and there it once reigned supreme among 
the feathered tribe, but it becomes more scarce, alas! of late. It 
makes its eyrie in the most inaccessible part of the cliff, constructing 
no nest, but laying two to four eggs in a cavity of a rock where a 
little loose earth has been deposited; sometimes in the deserted 
nest of the Raven or Carrion Crow. If either of the old birds 
happens to be shot during the period of breeding, it is incredible in 
how short a space of time the survivor finds a new mate. Within 
a short distance from their nest they establish a larder well sup- 
plied with Puffins, Jackdaws, and above all, Kestrels ; while the 
immediate neighbourhood is strewed with bones. Remarkable 
as are both male and female bird for muscular power and high 
courage, the latter, which is also considerably larger, is by far the 
superior. The female was, consequently, in the days of falconry 
flown at Herons and Ducks, and she was the falcon proper among 
falconers; the male, termed a Tiercel or Tiercelet, was flown at 
Partridges and Pigeons. In their native haunts they seem to cause 
little alarm among the Puffins and Razor-bills by which they are 
surrounded, but the sudden appearance of a pair in a part of the 
cliff frequented by Jackdaws, causes terrible consternation ; while 
any number of intruders on their own domain are driven away with 
indomitable courage. When pressed by hunger, or desirous of 
changing their diet, they condescend to attack and capture birds 
so small as a Lark, and it is remarkable that however puny may be 
the prey, the Falcon preserves its instinctive habit of dealing a 
deadly blow at once, as if afraid that under all circumstances the 
natural impulse of its quarry were to stand on the defensive. Even 
in ordinary flight the movement of its wings is exceedingly quick, 
but when it stoops on its prey its rapidity of descent is marvellous, 
accompanied too, as it is, by a sound that may be heard at a dis- 
tance of two hundred yards. Perhaps no bird has had more written 
about it than this Falcon, numerous treatises have been composed 
on the art of ‘reclaiming’ it, or training it for hawking, and the 
proper method of conducting the sport. We have at present space 
only to add a few words on the latter subject. The art of the 
falconer is to intercept the Herons when flying against the wind. 
When a Heron passes, a cast or couple of Falcons are thrown off, 
which dart into the air, flying in a spiral direction to get above the 
Heron. As soon as the first has attained the necessary elevation, 
she makes a stoop, and if she misses, a second stoop is made by the 
