THE PRREGRIXE FALCON. 



579 



lished itself some years ago on the towers of Notre Dame in Paris, 

 and every day captured several of the tame pigeons which fly afc 

 liberty in the city. This continued for a month, and was only put a 

 stop to by the proprietors of the pigeons keeping their pets shut 

 up. Thus deprived of its means of existence, the Falcon soon dis- 

 appeared. 



Notwithstanding the magnificent powers of flight of the Peregrine 



Fig. 267. The Hobby. 



Falcon, it is not always successful in its forays. Naumann narrates 

 that he saw a Pigeon pursued by one of these destroyers throw itself 

 into a lake, dive down, and shortly after emerge in another part, thus 

 baffling its enemy. When a Pigeon is harassed by a Falcon it endea- 

 vours to mount above its enemy ; if it succeeds in this it is saved, 

 for the Falcon. becomes fatigued, and gives up the pursuit. 



Ravens are inveterate enemies of the Peregrine Falcon. They 

 have frequent fights, in which the former sometimes prove the con- 

 querors. A Raven has been known to break the skull of a Falcon 

 with a blow of its bill. 



