246 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. t'H. XVII. 



some other prey, made a sudden dash at them, and 

 with such violence as in an instant to disperse the 

 whole bunch on the ground, where she hopped about 

 examining grape after grape, and, at last having 

 found out her error, she left them in disgust. 



It must be a strong bird that can withstand the 

 rapid powerful swoop and fierce blow of a peregrine. 

 I have seen one strike the head off a grouse or 

 pigeon with one blow, which divided the neck as 

 completely as if it had been cut off with a sharp 

 knife. 



Few birds of the same kind vary so much in 

 size as peregrine falcons. Some killed in a wild 

 state are almost as large as the noble ger falcon. 

 Altogether the peregrine is the finest of our 

 British falcons both in size, courage, and beauty. 

 It possesses, too, the free courage and confidence 

 which facilitate so greatly the process of training it 

 to assist us in our field sports. 



