246 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XVII. 



coloured grapes in my hand. The falcon, as I 

 passed by her, mistaking the grapes for a bird or 

 some other prey, made a sudden dash at them, and 

 with such violence as in an instant to disperse the 

 whole bunch on the ground, where she hopped 

 about, examining grape after grape, and at last 

 having found out her error, she left them in 

 disgust. 



It must be a strong bird that can withstand 

 the rapid powerful swoop and fierce blow of a 

 peregrine. I have seen one strike the head off a 

 grouse or pigeon with one blow, which divided 

 the neck as completely as if it had been cut off 

 with a sharp knife. 



Few birds of the same kind vary so much in 

 size as peregrine falcons. Some killed in a wild 

 state are almost as large as the noble ger falcon. 

 Altogether the peregrine is the finest of our 

 British falcons both in size, courage, and beauty. 

 It possesses, too, the free courage and confidence 

 which facilitate so greatly the process of training 

 it to assist us in our field sports. 



