112 THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 



All which just shows the many-sided beauties of Nature's 

 poet. 



The peregrine does not chase its prey like the hawks or 

 harriers — on the same level — like a hound after a hare ; but flies 

 above it, outsoars, and falls like a shot down upon its victim. 

 There is no limit to its activity in air. It comes from such a 

 height, and at such a speed, as if a flash of feathered lightning 

 glanced from the clouds — so sudden and unexpected is its blow. 

 Its usual mode is to fly straight at its prey — but above it — with 

 rapid beats of its wings, until the time to strike ; then closing 

 its long pinions, like a gannet before plunging into the sea, 

 dashes almost perpendicularly down to within a few feet ; then, 

 with the speed of the wind, swoops, and rips up its victim with 

 its outstretched claws, and carries it off ; or, if too heavy, presses 

 it obliquely to the ground and devours it on the spot — unless 

 when crossing water, when it is dropped to save itself. It 

 seldom floats or sails in circles like the eagles or buzzards, but 

 sometimes hovers like the kestrel. Its favourite food is grouse, 

 woodcock, and partridges, rabbits and young hares. It is said a 

 brood of young peregrines will consume 300 brace of grouse. 

 This, like the "drink bill" of last year, 1891, viz., 

 £141,250,000 for the United Kingdom, may be interesting to 

 those who neither sport nor drink, as representing so much 

 money lost to other pursuits ; but, if meant as a reflection upon 

 Nature or her universal plan, it is not only blaming the creature 

 but the Creator of the bird, the malt, and the man. Some may 

 say that so many brace killed by the peregrine was the best 

 proof of a superabundance of grouse ; as so many gallons of 

 whisky and barrels of beer consumed was the best proof of 

 plenty of trade and high wages to be able to buy the drink. 

 For 



Tis true, a hawk will skim the air, 



And strike the sparrow down ; 

 Yet all have universal care 



To live and love aroun'. 



For Nature, like a wise merchant, is regulated by supply and 

 demand. Where the carcase is, there will the vultures be also ; 

 and where the herrings are, there will be the porpoise, the 

 gannet, and the gull ; even where the dirt is, there will be the 

 vermin. 



" And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, 

 Knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven." — Henry VI. 



An apt application to faddists, who, because they are virtuous, 



think the world shall have no more cakes and ale. 



