DIKUS. 79 



Iiawks, to distinguish them from the goss hawk, the sparrow- 

 hawk, the kite, and the buzzard, that are of shorter wing, and 

 either too slow, too cowardly, too indolent, or too obstinate, to 

 be serviceable in contributing to the pleasures of the field. 



Tlie uncertainty in wliich the history of the Peregrine Falcon was Iohr 

 involved, appears to have arisen from the error of earlier writers, in con. 

 sideringf the Falco Peregrinus and Falco communis, with its enumerated 

 varieties, as two distinct species. 



Deficiency of observation, and consequent want of an accurate kno\vledg;e 

 of the various changes of plumage the bird undergoes in its progress to ma- 

 turity, naturally led to this efl'ect ; and we accordingly find, that the bird 

 hitherto described as the Falco Communis, the type of the supposed species, 

 and its vai'ieties, must have been originally figured from an immature spcci- 

 men of the Fitlco Peregrinus. 



lu England and Wales the Peregrine Falcon is rare, and is only found in. 

 digonous in rocky or mountainous districts. The Highlands and Northern 

 Isles of Scotland appear to be the situations most favourable to it, and in 

 that part of the kingdom it is numerous and widely diffused. — The most in. 

 accessible situations are always selected for its cyry, and its nest is placed 

 upon the shelf of a rock. It lays four or five eggs, in colour very similar to 

 those of the Kestrel, but considerably larger. 



The flight of this species, when pursuing its quarry, is astonishingly rapid, 

 almost beyond credibility. By Montagu it has been reckoned at 150 miles 

 in an hour. Colonel Thoknton, an expert falconer, estimated the flight of 

 a falcon, in pursuit of a snipe, to have been nine miles in eleven minutes, 

 without including the frequent turns. This sort was formerly much used 

 in falconry, and was flown at the larger kinds of game, wild ducks and he- 

 rons. In its unreclaimed state it preys upon the difl'erent sorts of game, 

 wild geese, wild ducks and pigeons. 



In England, the Hobby is among the number of those birds that are named 

 Polar Migrants or summer periodical Visitants. It arrives in April, and 

 after performing the oflices of incubation, and of rearing its young, leaves 

 us, for warmer latitudes, in October. 



Wooded and inclosed districts appear to be its usual haunts. It builds in 

 lofty trees, but will sometimes save itself the task of constructing a nest, by 

 taking possession of the deserted one of a magpie or crow. The number ot 

 its eggs is commonly four, of a bliush.white, with olive.green or yellowish- 

 brown blotches. Its favourite game is the lark, but it preys upon all small 

 birds. Partridges and quails also become frequent victims to its courage 

 and rapacity, in which qualities, diminutive as it is, it yields to none of ita 

 tribe. Possessing a great length and power of wng, the flight of the lit)bby 

 is wonderfully rapid, and can be supported with undiminished vigour for a 

 considerable time. Wlien hawking was keenly followed, the hobby waa 

 trained to the pursuit of young partridges, snipes, and larks. It is of ele- 

 gant form, and resembles, in miniature, the peregrine falcon. The wings, 

 when closed, generally reach beyond the end of the tail.— According to 

 Temminck, it is common throughout Europe, during the summer months ; 

 but retires to warmer regions at the approach of winter. 



Keitrcl.—TK\s «elJ known species is distinguished, not only by the pym. 



