PEREGRINE FALCON. 121 



states of plumage, and age of the trained birds. The 

 language of falconry was introduced into that 

 of science, and the combination was difficult to 

 unravel. F. communis, hornotinus y and gibbosus, 

 are now ascertained to belong to some states of 

 this bird ; and in sporting terms, we have Falcon 

 for the female, and Tercel for the male. We are 

 not so sure, however, of the " Barbary Falcon," as 

 there are one or two African birds which come 

 near, and whose young states may be very similar ; 

 and, except that above noted, we have no modern 

 instance of the Peregrine being received from 

 Africa. The difference in the proportions, and 

 in the notching or emargination of the feathers, 

 is often very marked ; and it would be well that 

 a very rigid examination of every part of the 

 specimens which were considered identical, was 

 always made before they are recorded, for we are 

 convinced that many birds have not nearly the 

 extent of distribution which has been assigned to 

 them, and that the representing or analogous, 

 species have been taken for them. 



The food of the Peregrine residing inland, is 

 principally game of all kinds ; on the coast, the 

 various sea-fowl, of which ducks and the curlews 

 are most esteemed. We have seen that the Ame- 

 rican birds have certain propensities for fish, but 

 few instances have been recorded of small ani- 

 mals being destroyed. The flight, when in the 



