ZOOLOGY. 301 



most numerous. They are everywhere, however, alike in habits, and the 

 unrelenting destroyers of everything that has life. 



Notwithstanding the nobility of character usually attributed to this family, 

 there is little that is noble or magnanimous about thern, except whatever 

 of such may be attributed to their usually graceful forms, instinctive cunning, 

 and soaring flight ; on the contrary, they are in habits the veriest robbers 

 and most pitiful thieves of the feathered tribes, and the writer begs leave to 

 add, that there is more decent respectability and true nobility in one honest 

 gander, plebeian though he may be, than in all the noble falcons and imperial 

 eagles that ever lived. We are sorry to differ so materially from the 

 generality of naturalists, but this is our opinion, in Avhich we only ac- 

 quiesce in the conclusion of the great Dr. Franklin, Avho thought the bald 

 eagle had scarcely a sufficiently good character to entitle him to the distinc- 

 tion of representing the American repubUc, and hinted that the turkey would 

 have done better. We will not, however, at present venture quite so far as to 

 insist upon the latter. 



Suh'fam. 1. FalconincB or true Falcons. Bill short, very strong and 

 sharp ; upper mandible with a Avell defined tooth, sometimes two, and also 

 more or less festooned ; under mandible truncated or emarginated at the 

 end. Feet strong, middle toe long, claws strong and acute. Wings 

 usually lengthened and formed for rapid flight. Size moderate or small; 

 never large. 



In this sub-family we find the most complete development of characters 

 indicating and in accordance with habits of rapine and violence. The 

 boldest and most daring of birds of prey, their whole structure fits them for 

 carrying on a life of warfare ; their great muscular development, their long 

 •wings and powerful claws, enable them to pursue their prey with incredible 

 swiftness and seize it Avith unerring and deadly grasp. The restricted 

 genus Falco contains the species most noted in these respects, among which 

 are some of the fastest flyers of all birds. Several of these were formerly 

 highly valued when trained for falconry, especially the Falco peregrinus, 

 Linn., or wandering falcon (/>/. 104, fig. 5), which is an European species, 

 but also found sparingly along the sea-coasts of the United States. It is 

 known in New Jersey by the name of the duck haAvk, and also as the 

 bullet hawk, and preys almost exclusively upon ducks, Avhich it overtakes 

 and strikes upon the Aving. The latter name (bullet hawk) appears to have 

 been given from a supposition Avhich is prevalent, that it actually strikes the 

 duck Avith its breast and knocks it doAvn by mere momentum. An inspection 

 of its ferocious-looking beak and claAVS Avill, however, justify quite a different 

 conclusion. 



Another of the larger fixlcons is the Jer Falcon (F. islandicus), Avhich is a 

 native of the northern regions of both the Old and New Worlds, though most 

 abundant in the north of Europe, braving the coldest climates, and, in fact, 

 rarely making its appearance in temperate latitudes. It is of a beautiful 

 white color striped Avith black, Avhich with its courage seems to have made it 

 a great favorite Avith falconers, and its use appears to have been almost 

 monopolized by persons of noble blood. 



505 



