CHAPTER II. 

 FALCONIM. THE FALCONS. 



* So when a falcon skims the airy way, 

 Stoops from the clouds, and pounces on his prey ; 

 Dash'd on the earth the feather'd victim lies, 

 Expands its feeble wings, and flutt'ring dies/ 



P. WHITEHEAD : The Gymnasiad, Book 3. 



HAVING in the Introduction treated of the general structure and 

 the classification of birds, and the particular characteristics of 

 the various orders and tribes, with especial reference to the beaks 

 and feet, which generally point out with sufficient clearness their 

 habits and consequent position, I come now, without further 

 preface, to describe in order the families into which those orders 

 and tribes are subdivided, and to give some short account of 

 each individual species, which, as a resident, a periodical or an 

 occasional visitant in our county, has come under my observation. 

 I have already shown that the first Order, ' Birds of Prey,' con- 

 sists of three families, the Vultures, Falcons, and Owls. Of the 

 first of these (Vulturidce) no member has ever been recognised in 

 this county ; and, indeed, it is only from the very rare occurrence 

 of a straggler or two on our shores, probably driven out of their 

 course by strong and adverse winds, that the vultures have of late 

 obtained a place amongst British birds, for they are essentially 

 inhabitants of tropical countries, and to such neither Great 

 Britain in general, nor Wiltshire in particular, can by any means 

 claim to belong. And yet it seems strange that with such 

 immense powers of flight, and abounding, as they do, within a 

 few hours of Great Britain, they should not more frequently visit 

 us, more especially in summer. Even the short- winged warblers 



