BRITISH BIRDS. 9 



back and wings are larger ; the feathers on the 

 thighs are very long, and of a pure white ; those of 

 the tail are barred : the legs are pale blue, feathered 

 below the knee. This bird is a native of the cold 

 and dreary climates of the north, and is found in 

 Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Baffin's Bay; it is 

 never seen in warm, and seldom in temperate 

 climates ; it is found, but rarely, in Scotland and 

 the Orkneys. Next to the Eagle, it is the most 

 formidable, active, and intrepid of all rapacious 

 birds, and the most esteemed for falconry. It is 

 transported from Iceland and Russia into France, 

 Italy, and even into Persia and Turkey ; nor does 

 the heat of these climates appear to diminish its 

 strength, or blunt its vivacity. It boldly attacks 

 the largest of the feathered race ; the Stork, the 

 Heron, and the Crane are easy victims : it kills 

 hares by darting directly upon them. The female, 

 as in all other birds of prey, is much larger and 

 stronger than the male, which is used in falconry, 

 chiefly to catch the Kite, the Heron, and the Crow. 

 Our figure was taken from a female now in the 

 Newcastle Museum. 



VOL. I. 



