PEREGRINE FALCON 



Falco peregrtnus 



HE Peregrine Falcon is still undoubtedly the commonest of 

 our larger birds of prey, in spite of the war waged against it 

 by gamekeepers and collectors. It still breeds in a few 

 favoured localities in England, chiefly on the rock-girt 

 southern and western sea-coasts, though there are a few 

 well-known inland sites in the Northern Counties. It is 

 still, however, a common bird on the wild west coast of 

 Scotland, where most of the huge cliff faces are tenanted yearly by a pair. 

 In Ireland also it breeds in most suitable localities. The Peregrines which 

 breed in our islands are resident all the year round, but their numbers are 

 increased in spring and autumn by the migratory birds, which remain some 

 little time with us to rest. These migrants probably follow the flocks of 

 waders and ducks to and from their breeding haunts in more northern 

 latitudes. 



The favourite haunts of the Peregrine are the wild open moors and 

 mountain-sides, and the rocky cliffs on the sea-coast which abound with sea-fowl 

 of various kinds. There is no slyness or skulking about the Peregrine's mode of 

 hunting ; his proceedings are characterised by an extraordinary amount of bold- 

 ness and dash. He fairly flies down his quarry, and rising high in the air stoops 

 at it with a marvellous precision, seldom failing to kill it instantaneously. His 

 wing-power is magnificent, and he can with ease overtake and kill the rock 

 pigeons, whose swiftness of flight surpasses that of almost any bird. The higher 

 he rises, the more certain is his stoop, the death-blow being almost invariably 

 given by his terrible hind-claw. 



The Peregrine has been condemned by game-preservers in general, for his 

 wanton destruction of birds ; he has an unfortunate habit of striking down 

 grouse, partridges, etc., almost under the keeper's nose, and flying off quite 

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