THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 93 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus). 



On the opposite plate there is a figure of the peregrine 

 falcon (female), one-sixth of the lineal dimensions. 



It is much less than the jer-falcon, but more gracefully 

 formed ; and though less terrible and more docile than that, 

 it is withal a very bold and powerful bird. The full-grown 

 female is sometimes seventeen inches long, and more than 

 three feet and a half in the extent of the wings. The male is 

 two or three inches shorter, and narrower in proportion. 



The head, nape, a patch under the eye, and the whole 

 upper part of the bird, are dusk, inclining to grey in some 

 part, and to brown in others ; the bends of the wings, and 

 edges of some of the feathers, relieved by greyish white. 

 The rump and tail coverts rather paler and bluer than the 

 rest of the upper part. The tail feathers with rather obscure 

 dusky lines, the one at the point the broadest. The throat, 

 sides of the neck, and all the under parts white, passing into 

 cream-colour on the breast, and into light grey on the long 

 feathers of the legs, marked with bars and arrow-head spots 

 of dusky. The quills are dusky j and the first one having 

 very little outer web towards its tip, gives the point of the 

 wing great firmness. The male wants the cream colour on 

 the breast, and the upper plumage is more inclining to brown. 

 Naked skin yellow, and irides dark brown ; bill bluish, the 

 tip, and the claws, which are very sharp, black. Bill strong, 

 and tooth in it very prominent. 



Among rapacious birds, the peregrine falcon more emi- 

 nently deserves the name of the "poulterer;" because, though 

 it flies at other game, it seems to be placed as the natural 

 regulator of the numbers of these. It inhabits the wilds 

 next in latitude and loneliness of situation to the jer-falcon, 

 and seldom nestles in the low countries, and never in the 

 marshy ones. But it is not so fortified against the cold as 



