70 PEREGRIXE. 



having fallen into the sea, and been drowned, together with 

 birds which they had struck when flying over it; the more 

 remarkable as the prey so seized were only small, and far 

 inferior in size to themselves: probably they had been in 

 some way hampered or clogged, as a good swimmer may be 

 by a drowning boy, so that although if they had fallen on 

 the land, they might have extricated themselves, yet such 

 opportunity has been lost by their mischance of dropping into 

 the sea, and they have met with a watery grave. A black 

 grouse, a bird equal to itself in weight, if not heavier, has 

 been found in the nest of one of these Falcons, with which 

 it had probably flown several miles. Sometimes, if it finds a 

 bird which it has struck down too heavy to carry away, it 

 will drop it, and seek another in its stead. It seldom visits 

 the poultry yard. It is said to overpower even the Capercailie. 

 Its clutch is less fatal than its stroke: it has been known to 

 bear away birds for a long distance in its claw, without serious 

 injury. 



This bird has frequently been seen to stoop upon and carry 

 off game immediately before sportsmen, both such as had been 

 shot at and killed, and others Avhich were being followed. It 

 takes its prey as well by pursuit, as by a sudden descent 

 upon it. It seldom follows it into cover. Sometimes, for 

 what reason it is impossible to say, it has been known to 

 strike down several birds in succession, before securing one 

 for its food. One instance however is recorded where having 

 killed, and being in the act of devouring one bird, it chased 

 and caught another of the same kind, still holding the former 

 in one claw, and securing the latter in the other. The Pere- 

 grine has been known to cut a snipe in two, and in like 

 manner to strike off the head of a grouse or pigeon, 'at one 

 fell swoop.' It is said that all the Falcons crush and destroy 

 the head of their prey before devouring them. The Peregrine 

 will occasionally kill and eat the Kestrel, though a bird of 

 of its own tribe. In confinement it has been known to do 

 the same; and on one occasion to devour a Merlin, which it 

 had slain. Two instances are recorded also of their killing 

 and eating their partners in captivity. On both occasions the 

 female was the cannibal, but in the latter of the two, she 

 died a few days afterwards, from the effects of the wounds 

 she had received from the male in his self-defence. They soon 

 become quite tame in confinement. 



It is very curious how these and all the other birds which 



