THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 



297 



life it is almost wholly of a grayish-brown tint, the feathers beiug 

 slightly marked with a little white upon their edges. As the bird 

 increases in age the white edges become wider, and by degrees the 

 entire feather is of a snowy 

 whiteness. The name Jer- fal- 

 con is supposed to be a cor- 

 ruption of " Geier-falcou," or 

 Vulture Falcon. 



Less powerful but more 

 graceful than the Jer-falcon, the 

 Peregrine Falcon has ever 

 held the first place among the 

 hawks that are trained for the 

 chase. 



When thorouirhly tamed the 

 Peregrine Falcon* displays a The Winter Falcon (Fa/co %maizs). 



very considerable amount of attachment to its owner, and even while 

 flying at perfect liberty will single him out from a large company, fly 

 voluntarily toward him, and perch lovingly on his hand or shoulder. 



It will chase and kill many of the coast birds, such as the dunlin, the 

 gull, and the plover. The curlew is a very favorite prey, and, being a 

 strong-winged bird, affords great sport. It is rather remarkable that 

 the dunlin, together with birds of similar habits, flies instinctively to 

 the sea, lake, or river when attacked by the Peregrine Falcon, as if 



The Peregrine Falcon or Great-footed Hawk {Falco perecjrinus). 



knowing that the winged hunter is very unwilling to swoop upon any 

 object that is flying upon the surface of the water. The Falcon has 

 been seen to drive a dunlin repeatedly into the sea before it could 

 intercept the poor bird between the dry land and its watery refuge: 

 It will also strike at the gray crows or at herons, but unless specially 

 trained to the pursuit will not trouble itself further about them. ' 

 The full speed of the Peregrine Falcon has been computed at a hun- 

 dred and fifty miles per hour, and a single chase will often occupy a 



