174 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



" I have often, when walking under the trees where these half- 

 torpid monarchs of the air sit side by side, fired and knocked one 

 out from betwixt its neighbors without causing them the slightest 

 alarm. . . . This eagle is by far the most abundant of the falcon 

 tribe in British Columbia, and always a conspicuous object in ascend- 

 ing a river ; he is seated on the loftiest tree or rocky pinnacle, and 

 soars off circling round, screaming like a tortured demon, as if in re- 

 monstrance at such an impudent intrusion into its solitudes." 



The Gyrfalcons are circumpolar birds, and one, the 

 Gray Gyrfalcon, comes within our northern boun- 

 daries in winter. They are superb birds, particularly 

 the white one, which is often immaculate, but usually 

 with some dark markings. 



Nuttall says of one variety of the gyrfalcon, 



" Next to the eagle, this bird is the most formidable, active, and 

 intrepid, and was held in the highest esteem for falconry. It boldly 

 attacks the largest birds." 



The Duck-hawk, or, as we sometimes hear it called, 

 the Peregrine Falcon, is only common in limited 

 localities, but may be found occasionally in every 

 part of the continent. It has not been long since it 

 was found nesting in a hemlock near the Delaware 

 Water Gap in Pennsylvania, and " up" the river they 

 seem to remain until early autumn, when they come 

 " down" and are found sparingly about tide-water all 

 winter, but especially do they seek the salt marshes 

 and the sea-coast. Dr. Cooper says of one he saw 

 on the Pacific coast, "I have seen one pursue a 

 swallow, and, turning feet upward, seize it flying with 

 perfect ease." The common name duck-hawk comes 

 from the fact that this bird preys upon wild fowl, and 

 being so powerful and active, it can easily strike down 

 a flying duck. 



