THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 



Once he loved on the sun to gaze, 

 But now he shuns the dazzling blaze ; 

 His eye is dimmed, and a feebler light 

 Suits best the captive eagle's sight. 

 Oh ! were he free, his glance would dare 

 The vivid lightning's fervid glare. 



Break, break, the kingly eagle's chain, 

 And give him to the skies again. 



'Twas the thought of a dastard mind, 

 The eagle's free-born wing to bind ; 

 Freeman, if freedom's honoured name, 

 The homage of thy heart can claim, 

 Unclose the prisoner's grated door, 

 And let him far and freely soar. 



Break, break, the kingly eagle's chain, 

 And give him to the skies again. 



ORDER ACCIPITRES. 



The Common, Peregrine, or Passerine Falcon. 

 Falco communis, GMEL. F. Peregrinus. LINN. 



THE falcons, properly so called, have been 

 commonly distinguished as the noble birds of 

 prey. They are thus named, because they have 

 been trained by man to follow the chase; which it 

 was the fashion of the time, when falconry was in 

 use, to call a noble sport, since it was a game 



