VIII. PEREGRINE FALCON. 



(Falco peregrinus.) 



FALCONS are distinguished from Hawks by having a tooth-like 

 notch in the beak, and by having more pointed wings, the second 

 quill being the longest in the wing, not the fourth, as in Hawks. 

 The Peregrine Falcon is not uncommon in Moidart. The young 

 ones in the illustration were taken from a nest in a wild glen 

 near Loch Ailt, not many miles from here, to be reared for a 

 friend who wanted to train them for hawking. We fed them 

 mostly on young Books, which were being shot at that time. 

 They ate voraciously, and, when gorged, laid their heads down on 

 the carcase and fell asleep. 



When Captain Salvin was quartered in Ayr, many years ago, 

 I have seen a Falcon of his flown at Hooks for want of better 

 game. The unfortunate Rook it was pursuing always made for 

 the shelter of a hedge or wall, where the Falcon had not room to 

 strike, whence it had to be driven out by the cracking of long 

 whips. 



In Ireland Peregrines are frequently flown at Magpies, which 

 afford better sport. On the open plains of India Herons are the 

 best game, and the pastime can be enjoyed on horseback. The 

 most interesting part of all to the uninitiated was to see the 

 Falcon, at the falconer's call, return to the lure of its own free 

 will, submitting to the bondage of hood and jesses, when it had 

 the power to fly away and be at liberty. 



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