TJie Falcon. 



205 



THE PEREGKINE FALCON. (Falco peregrinas.) 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON, which is the most common kind, 

 is from fifteen to eighteen inches in length. The bill is 

 blue at the base, and black at the point ; the head, back, 

 scapulars, and coverts of the wing are barred with deep 

 black and blue ; the throat, neck, and upper part of the 

 breast are white, tinged with yellow ; the bottom of the 

 breast, belly, and thighs are of a grayish white ; and the 

 tail is black and blue. Wilson enumerates no less than 

 ten varieties, dependent chiefly upon age, sex, and 



