BIRDS. 



521 



cosmopolitan species, found in almost every part of the world. None of 

 the falcons exceed it in courage, daring, and rapacity ; and only the gyr- 

 falcon — a more northern species — was more highly esteemed in those 

 days now long gone by, when falconry was a noble sport. It is a strong 

 flier, and one which was started after a little bustard at Fontainebleau 



^M^^JZd, 



Fig. 431. — Peregrine falcon, or duck-hawk (Falco peregrinus). 



during the reign of Henry II. of France was taken the ne 

 Malta, thirteen hundred miles away. The recognition of 

 was certain, for it wore on its leg the ring of the king, 

 feeds largely on sea-ducks, and from this derives its other 

 hawk. It lives to a great age. The story goes that one 

 the Cape of Good Hope, in 1793, that wore a golden collar 

 with the date 1610, and an inscription indicating that the 



xt morning at 

 the individual 

 The peregrine 

 name of duck- 

 was caught at 

 about its neck 

 bird formerly 



