44 British Birds^ 



considerable nuip.bers, forminoTj as it were, a lar^e 

 colony during the breeding season ; of course, in the 

 vicinity of some ample and convenient fishing 

 station. 



We come next to the Falcons, distinguished from 

 the rest of the Hawks by, among other things, their 

 long and pointed wings, and their vehement and 

 rapid flight and dash in pursuing and seizing their 

 quarry. First we notice the 



GREENLAND Y KLQQT^—^Falco Candicans ; 

 formerly, Grcenlandiciis). 



Also called Jer Falcon or Gyr Falcon. 



ICELAND FALCON— (/^^/^^ hlandicus). 



Neither of these birds breed in Britain, and they 

 are only occasional and somewhat rare visitants. 

 Whatever notice can be afforded to them, will be met 

 with in the Appendix. 



PEREGRINE FALCON— (/^^/^^ peregrinus). 



There was a time at which this bird was abundant 

 enough in our island. It slill breeds in many parts 

 of both England and Scotland, though much more 

 commonly in the latter country. But in the feudal 

 times there would have been no difiSculty to the young 

 egg-collector — if such beings existed then — in meeting 

 with the nest of the Peregrine, in districts suitable to 

 their breeding habits and requirements. Although 

 some consideration, it is true, might have been ad- 

 visable previously to appropriating the contents of the 



