THE JER FALCON. 55 



some high position, and dart furiously upon it, often killing by the force of the shock. 

 Audubon says the sexes separate after the breeding season, and are then quite hostile to each 

 other. Its spread of wing is three feet nine inches. 



HARLAN'S HAWK (Buteo harlani}, called also Black Warrior, is native to the South- 

 western States, and Guatemala. It is allied to the preceding, though somewhat smaller. Its 

 prey is preferably wild fowl. In this there is a singular difference between it and larger 

 Hawks. Some of the latter feed on beetles and grasshoppers by preference. 



COOPER'S HAWK (Buteo cooperi) is a Calif ornian species, named in honor of Dr. Cooper, 

 the naturalist of California, who obtained one specimen, the only one so far known to science. 

 It is very closely like an Asiatic and European species, and may be identical. 



THE CALIFORNIA SQUIRREL HAWK (ArcMbuteo ferrugineus) inhabits Western North 

 America, from California to the Missouri River. Like some others it was discovered since 

 Audubon' s day. 



CLOSELY allied to the Mississippi Kite is the SPOTTED-TAILED HOBBY, or LEADEN ICTINIA, 

 both names being derived from the coloring of the plumage. It is, in common with the pre- 

 ceding bird, a native of America, and resembles it closely in many of its habits and manner of 

 feeding. It is fond of soaring at a very great elevation, and will often remain stationary in a 

 single spot, hanging as it were self -poised in air. The back and wings of this species are a slate 

 or leaden blue, and the head and remainder of the plumage of whitish-gray, spotted rather 

 singularly with brown. The eye is bright red. Specimens of this bird have been found both 

 in North and South America. 



THE TRUE FALCONS. 



THE true FALCONS are known by their strong, thick, and curved beak, the upper mandible 

 having a projecting tooth near the curve, which fits into a corresponding socket in the under 

 mandible. The talons are strongly curved, sharp pointed, and are either flat or grooved in 

 their under sides. 



AMONG the true Falcons the JERFALCON is the most conspicuous on account of the supe- 

 rior dimensions of its body and the striking power of its wing. 



This splendid bird is a native of Northern Europe, being mostly found in Iceland and Nor- 

 way, and it also inhabits parts of both Americas. Some naturalists believe that the Norwegian 

 and Icelandic birds ought to be reckoned as different species, but others think that any differ- 

 ences between them are occasioned by age and sex. It is said that of the two birds the 

 Iceland variety is the more powerful, of bolder flight, and greater age, and therefore better 

 adapted for the purpose of falconry. 



The power of flight possessed by this bird is wonderfully great, and has been well 

 described by Mr. Mudie. "It pays occasional visits to the northern and western isles, 

 more especially to those places of them that abound with rock doves ; and few sights can 

 be finer than that of the Jerfalcon driving through a flock of them. When the Jer- 

 falcon comes within sight of her prey she bounds upwards, every stroke of the wings 

 producing a perpendicular leap, as if she were climbing those giant stairs with which 

 nature molds the basaltic rocks ; and when she has ' got the sky ' of her prey to a suf- 

 ficient height for gaining the necessary impetus, her wings shiver for a moment she 

 works herself into proper command and poise, and to the full extent of her wings. Then, 

 prone she dashes, with so much velocity that the impression of her path remains in 

 the eye in the same manner as that of the shooting meteor or the flashing lightning, and 

 you fancy that there is a torrent of Falcon rushing for fathoms through the air. The 

 stroke is as unerring as the motion is fleet. If it takes effect on the body, the bird 



