170 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



thus suddenly killed by a peregrine be examined, 

 it will generally be found that the loins and 

 shoulders are deeply scored, the back of the neck 

 much torn, and even the skull sometimes pene- 

 trated by this formidable weapon. Now as the 

 stroke is almost always delivered obliquely, that 

 is, in a slanting, downward direction from behind, 

 this laceration could not be effected by any of the 

 talons of the front toes ; nor would the severest 

 possible blow from the breast of the falcon pro- 

 duce such an effect. Indeed, Colonel Bonham 

 had several rare opportunities of witnessing the 

 operation distinctly, and his testimony on this 

 point ought to be conclusive. On one occasion 

 in particular, when in Ireland, a woodcock, after 

 a long chace over an adjoining moor, had taken 

 refuge in a small cover, whither it was closely 

 pursued by the hawk the falconer and several 

 assistants following. Colonel Bonham himself 

 made for a nearer point of the coppice, and had 

 just taken up his position under a tree at the side 

 of a ride or alley, when he saw the woodcock 

 flying towards him, and its enemy close upon it. 

 As the former passed within a few yards of the 

 spot where he stood, he perceived by its laborious 

 flight and open beak that it was much exhausted. 

 The next moment down came the falcon, and he 

 could see distinctly that the blow was delivered 



