ANIMAL BEHAVIOR—ERNEST P. WALKER 207 
A very different method of obtaining food is employed by the birds 
of prey (Falconiformes), which catch their victims by a quick swoop. 
An outstanding example of a bird that employs this method is the 
falcon (Falco), which while soaring or flying almost out of sight will 
detect a bird in flight, or a bird or small mammal on the ground, dive 
from thousands of feet at speeds of as much as 280 miles an hour with 
the wings almost folded but extended just enough to enable it to steer 
itself, and strike and carry off its victim in its talons. In these dives 
the speed of the bird is so great that a whistling sound is produced. 
On one occasion I heard the whistling and an instant later a half-grown 
chicken was struck within about 8 feet of where I was standing, the 
falcon having come down at about a 45° angle over my head. It 
scarcely seems possible that a bird can fly with such speed and accuracy 
as to overtake and capture a startled duck in the air, but the duck 
hawk (Falco peregrinus anatum) does this regularly, providing a 
thrilling demonstration of skill and dexterity. Hunting with falcons 
was a royal sport in the Old World for many centuries and then was 
almost discontinued in Europe. It continued in Asia and is now 
popular again in Europe and the United States, where many different 
kinds of birds of prey are being trained to capture game or lures and 
bring them to the trainer. Among the birds that have been so trained 
are the beautiful, dainty little sparrow hawk (Falco sparverious), 
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi), duck hawk, the prairie falcon 
(Falco mexicanus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and even the 
barred owl (Strix varia). 
Another and little-known method of obtaining food.is practiced by 
the skimmers (Rynchops nigra), in which the lower mandible is con- 
siderably longer than the upper. Their regular practice in feeding is 
to fly so close over the water that the tip of the lower mandible is in 
the water, and when they come upon fish they merely lower them- 
selves enough so that they can scoop up the fish. 
Practically all woodpeckers (Picidae) feed on insects, most of 
which they capture in their burrows in wood. ‘These birds may often 
be seen going up or down trees, keeping the body often in a vertical 
position by grasping the trunk with the feet and leaning back on 
the stiff tail. Through their keen hearing they detect an insect under 
the bark or in the wood, and then proceed to cut away the bark 
or wood with their beaks until they approach close enough to the in- 
sect or worm so that they can draw it out of its burrow with their 
long-barbed tongues. The work of the woodpeckers in removing 
insects from the wood is far more beneficial than harmful, for if the 
insect is allowed to remain there it may do considerable damage, 
whereas the woodpecker ordinarily works only to excavate wood that 
has already been damaged by the insect, and by removing it prevents 
