PEREGRINE FALCONS 227 



circles, some of the turns being rendered in 

 amazingly majestic fashion. Again one and 

 especially the tiercel will, as a preliminary, 

 alternately dash along a cliff and circle over the 

 sea, then make off inland a short way only 

 to return almost at once, when it hurls itself just 

 over the brow of the precipice, almost brushing 

 it in fact, and with terrific speed fling down like 

 one possessed till the beach is well nigh reached, 

 where it continues its giddy career low over the 

 shingle and rocks, half closing its wings the while, 

 though all the same flapping them at a great rate. 

 Or else it may proceed in deep switchback curves, 

 flapping its wings vigorously on the ascent of 

 each one, gliding on the descent. 



Yet again witness a pair on their aerial 

 honeymoon. A stiff gale is raging this sunny 

 March morn, and the two Peregrines one behind 

 the other bent on pleasuring, wing their way it 

 seems laboriously even to these mighty creatures 

 full in its face for some distance. Suddenly a turn 

 is made, and down wind they coast like lightning. 

 Half a mile, a mile, is covered in fractional time 

 (the Peregrine seldom travels at a less rate than 

 an express train, while when in pursuit of its prey 

 its speed has been computed at two miles a minute), 

 then up wind once again only to repeat the 

 performance. At other times the Falcon with 

 fine ringing flight is careering round high above the 

 cliffs, when the tiercel streaks out from a buttress 



Q 2 



