54 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



buoyancy that never fails to excite interest and admiration. 

 When in pursuit of its prey, the Peregrine-falcon is re- 

 lentless and undaunted, following' it even into the presence 

 of man himself, and only abandoning the chase with the 

 greatest reluctance. It has been frequently seen following 

 some unfortunate bird that has sought to escape by 

 soaring, until pursuer and pursued have both completely 

 disappeared from sight in the regions of the upper air. 

 Indeed, so absorbed does this bird become when following 

 its victim, and so great is the terror and confusion it 

 inspires, that occasionally both the Falcon and the fugitive 

 are dashed against some tree, rock, or other obstacle, un- 

 noticed in their excitement by either. 



When flying, this bird does not so often " sail " as some 

 of the other members of the family, but uses the wings 

 very quickly, beating the air with them in a manner 

 something resembling the action of the wild pigeon. In 

 securing its feathered prey, the Peregrine-falcon seldom 

 clutches it in its talons, but strikes it to the earth with 

 great violence, rising after the blow is delivered a little in 

 the air, and wheeling round to carry off the quarry, which 

 in most cas^s is hopelessly injured or killed outright. Its 

 food consists of partridges, plovers, grouse, pigeons, curlews, 

 ducks, lerevets, rabbits, rats, and indeed almost any 

 similar-sized j bird or quadruped. It has often been 

 known to visit the farm-yai'ds and take away young 

 chickens. 



The nest, when not built upon some lofty tree, is 

 commonly placed on a projection or in a crevice of a crag 

 or cliff ; it is made of sticks and roots, sometimes inter- 

 mingled with seaweed, and lined with wool or hair. The 

 eggs number from two to five : they are of ,a well-rounded 



