THE HAWK TRIBE 1947 



as a migrant. These migratory individuals are chiefly birds of the first year, and 

 are most commonly met with in autumn; but there are also a certain number of old 

 birds which make their appearance in spring on their northward journey. Although 

 nearly always nesting on some lofty cliff, there are instances of its having bred in 

 an open marsh, and also in a tree. The nest is usuallj' of large size, and generally 

 contains four eggs, which are remarkable for the depth of the color of their red 

 blotchings. Feeding chiefly on birds of different kinds, the peregrine undoubtedly 

 kills a considerable quantity of game. Professor Newton is of opinion, however, 

 that the harm it inflicts is not so great as might at first appear to be the case, since 

 all falcons invariably seize the weakest birds, and the elimination of such weaklings 

 is probably to the general advantage of the breed. In North America, although by 

 no means common, the peregrine is the most numerously represented of all the 

 larger falcons. Captain Bendire writes that in the northern portion of its range it 

 is only a summer resident, following the immense flocks of water fowl during their 

 migrations. "Hares, ptarmigan, grouse, bob whites, pigeons, as well as smaller 

 birds, enter largely into its bill of fare, and the poultry yard as well occasionally 

 suffers. Next to the goshawk, the peregrine falcon is our most audacious bird of 

 prey. Its flight, when once fairly started in pursuit of its quarry, is amazingly 

 swift; it is seemingly an easy matter for it to overtake the fleetest of birds, and when 

 once in its grasp resistance is useless. I have seen this falcon strike a teal almost 

 within gunshot of me, kill it apparently instantaneously from the force of the shock, 

 and fly away with it without visible struggle, and as easily as if it had been a spar- 

 row instead of a bird of its own weight." 



From its docile disposition, its powerful flight, and the ease with 

 . . which it can be procured, the peregrine has always been a favorite 

 bird in falconry, and is the one most commonly employed in the modern 

 revival of that sport. In falconry it is the female only that is termed the ' ' falcon ' ' ; 

 the male bird being designated the " tiercel," corrupted into "tarsel." While the 

 tiercel was commonly flown at partridges and occasionally at magpies, herons, and 

 next to them rooks, were the favorite quarry for the falcon. In heron hawking, 

 the birds were intercepted on their way home, and, if possible, when flying against 

 the wind. When a heron was viewed, a cast or pair of falcons was loosed; and 

 thereupon pursuers and pursued immediately began to try and soar above the other, 

 the heron lightening himself by disgorging his food. The falcons fly in a spiral, 

 and as soon as one has gained a position of advantage and made its swoop, it should 

 be succeeded by its fellow, the manoeuvre being repeated until the heron is brought 

 to the ground. In striking, the falcon attacks only with its claws, and not, as often 

 represented, with its beak. In India the peregrine, locally known as the bhyri, 

 used to be employed by the native chiefs in hawking egrets, stalks, herons, cranes, 

 etc., only a single bird being flown at each quarry. The smaller shahin, or royal 

 falcon was, however, held in still higher estimation for this sport. It may be added 

 that the shahin differs from the peregrine by the more rufous tinge of its under 

 parts, and its dark head and nape. 



With the Indian turumti falcon (F. chicquera], which scarcely exceeds the com- 

 mon kestrel in size, we come to much smaller representatives of the present section 



