TEE PEREGRINE-FALC02T. ' 55 



shape, and in colour a reddish-russet, patched, marbled, and 

 streaked with darker shades. The birds show a particular 

 partiality to some places. There has been a pair of Pere- 

 grine-falcons breeding- at Beachy Head, Sussex, every year 

 since 1840, though nearly every year the young ones have 

 been taken, and several seasons the old birds have been 

 shot. 



The cry is a loud, harsh cackle, repeated several times, 

 not unlike that of the Kestrel. 



The parents are more fierce and courageous during the 

 breeding season than at any other period, defending their 

 domestic possessions with great intrepidity and spirit. 



The young birds are expelled from the nest as soon as 

 they are competent to provide for their own requirements, 

 and it is generally believed that the old birds remain near 

 the same haunts for some considerable time after the 

 young birds have left. 



The Peregrine-falcon is to be met with in nearly all the 

 European countries, but more particularly in those where 

 rocky coasts and glens are frequent, in most parts of 

 North America, and it is stated to be an occasional visitor 

 to such southerly regions as the Cape of Good Hope. In 

 Great Britain it has been seen in all parts at various 

 times, but perhaps as often in the county of Sussex as 

 anywhere. Instances are recorded of Falcons being shot 

 near Pet worth, Lewes, Chichester, Arundel, Shorekam, 

 Brighton, Seaford, Pevensey, and Rye. 



The bird varies considerably in size and in plumage, 

 although the mark on the sides of the throat is said to be 

 invariable. It is usually about eighteen to twenty inches 

 long (the female, like all the Falcons, being the larger) . 

 The iris is dark hazel- brown ; bristly feathers at the base 



