224 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



quarters in St. Paul's Cathedral, and similar situa- 

 tions appear to offer attraction to peregrines, 

 Salisbury Cathedral, and doubtless many other 

 such structures, being selected by them. Dixon, 

 to whom I have so frequently referred, says : ' I 

 have known many instances of this bird taking up 

 his quarters in some tower in a noisy town.' 



The peregrine Is a bold and beautiful bird, and 

 for hawking purposes most valuable. It is, how- 

 ever, amongst the high, rocky cliffs which over- 

 hang the sea that it is more frequently to be met 

 with, for not only are such localities most free 

 from intrusion, but they are generally the home 

 of numerous wild-fowl, which supply these birds 

 with abundant food. The power of this bird is 

 very great, and its flight is very rapid. The 

 speed with which it hurls itself at its quarry is 

 terrific, though, should it miss the latter, it will 

 not always again stoop at it. It is, perhaps, of 

 all hawks the most valuable for sport, and has 

 been from time immemorial held in the highest 

 repute for hawking purposes, for, apart from its 

 power and speed, it is singularly intelligent, and 

 easily trained. 



Mr. Corballis, in the work previously referred 

 to, makes mention of his having used peregrine 

 falcons when grouse-shooting, in order to induce 

 the grouse, which in the later part of the season 

 are apt to become wild, to lie. His plan was to fly 

 a cast of falcon over the ground on which he was 

 shooting, and he apparently found it answered the 



