168 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXI. 



harrier, the sparrowhawk, the goshawk, &c. The 

 rationale of this difference seems to be that the fal- 

 cons strike their prey by main force to the ground 

 in the midst of their flight ; whilst the other hawks 

 usually pounce on the animals on which they feed, 

 and take them unawares on the ground instead of 

 by fair pursuit and swiftness of wing. The sparrow- 

 hawk and hen-harrier seldom chase a bird to any 

 distance on the wing. 



I have spoken of the peregrine, the Iceland, the 

 Greenland falcon, and also the falcon of Norway 

 as being distinct species. This, however, is a point 

 to be decided by naturalists more skilful in the 

 anatomy and osteology of birds than I am myself. 

 Scnbimiis indocti ! My remarks are merely the 

 result of my own unscientific observations, aided by 

 the inspection of the numerous and beautifully-pre- 

 pared specimens of ray friend Mr. Hancock, who, I 

 believe, I may safely assert is the best stuffer of 

 birds in the kingdom. The examination of his col- 

 lection has been a source of great pleasure to me, 

 but it has also had the effect of making me dissatis- 

 fied with the performances of all other preservers of 

 birds. A bird, when it is stuffed and " set up," as 

 they term it, ought to be " aut Caesar aut nihil." 

 A bird stuffed in a second-rate manner is a very 

 valueless and unsatisfactory affair ; and it would be 



