By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 345 
corded the occurrence of species, all of which have been only 
occasional and very rare stragglers in the county; now I come to 
one which is comparatively abundant, and may be met with quite 
as much, if not more, in Wiltshire, than in any other part of 
England; our wide open downs being, as I before remarked, so 
admirably adapted to its habits. From its greater abundance, as 
well as from its size and strength, the Peregrine has been princi- 
pally trained for Falconry, and among the few who still pursue 
that noble sport, this is the species usually kept for the purpose: 
it is, moreover, a docile tractable bird, and repays the trainer’s care 
and attention by its remarkable courage, strength, and activity in 
the chase, and no less peculiar teachableness and obedience to his 
call. It received the specific name of ‘ Peregrine’ on account of its 
immense geographical range; its wonderful powers of flight, both 
as regards speed and endurance, enabling it to traverse vast dis- 
tances in an extremely short space of time, and scarcely a country 
in the world exists in which the Peregrine has not been noticed by 
Naturalists. In this county we may almost call it abundant; and 
where it is so frequently seen, it seems scarcely necessary to parti- 
cularize localities of its capture or occurrence. I have frequently 
seen it on the Roundway downs, and on the downs between Mar!l- 
borough and Devizes: notices have been sent me of its occurrence 
in almost all parts of the county, and Mr. Withers, the able bird- 
stuffer of Devizes, has usually one in his hands. Mr. Stratton, of 
Gore Cross Farm, above Lavington, (who is a great lover of Fal- 
cons, and watches them keenly,) assures me that his farm is seldom 
without one, and that no sooner is one shot or trapped, than 
another makes her appearance in its place; and as a proof of their 
abundance, I extract the following interesting notes of his success 
with these birds, from a register kept by Mr. B. Hayward :— 
Jan. 1, 1836, Peregrine (a Falcon) caught at Ramscliffe. 
March 28, 1842, Another (a Falcon) caught at ditto. 
Dec. 30, 1842. Another (a Falcon) at Ramscliffe. 
Dec. 8, 1849, Another (a male) weight 11b. Goz. 
Nov. 9, 1850, Another (a male) weight 141b. 
Jan. 22,1853. Another (a Faleon) weight 2 jlbs. 
The above extract proves two interesting facts—the plentifulness 
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