115 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 



Falco pereyrinus. LINNAEUS. 

 PLATE IV. 



Falco peregrinus, Auctorum. Faucon pellerin, fernm. 

 i. 22. Peregrine, or Peregrine Falcon, of Bnt. 

 authors. Great-footed Hawk, Wilson, N. A. Ornitlu/t. 

 ix. p. 120 __ (F. Barbaras, and Tartarian Falcon, of 

 Latham, often placed in the synonimes of this bird, are 

 very questionable.) Provincially named, Duck Hawk, 

 Blue Hawk, Game Hawk, Cliff Hawk. 



The Peregrine is one of the strongest and 

 most beautifully formed birds of its section. It is 

 hardly so long inform as the Jer Falcon, nor does 

 it weigh so heavily ; but the male Peregrine, 

 when in high plumage and condition, exhibits a 

 compact muscularity of shape, and an open and 

 bold expression, which approach closely to our 

 idea of the symmetry of a bird, formed in all its 

 proportions for swift pursuit and rapine. 



The Peregrine, though not common, nor of 

 very equal distribution over the country, can 

 scarcely be called a rare bird : in several favour- 

 able districts it is even frequent. In the rich low 

 lying lands of England, it is only met with as a 



