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56 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
than these: they are formed for rapid flight, and pursue their prey with 
extreme velocity, or, soaring above, descend upon it with a swoop, bearing 
it to the ground. Some, as the kestrels, which feed principally on frogs and 
mice, not excluding insects, sail in the air, performing easy circles, hover- 
ing over one spot when discovering an object of prey, and; by a sudden and 
rapid descent, pouncing upon it with unerring certainty. 
Of the Falcons, the Peregrine Falcon (falco peregrinus) is a well- 
known example. 
This beautiful and once highly-valued bird is very widely spread, being 
found in most of the bold and rocky districts of Europe and Asia: every- 
where it seems to be a bird of passage, whence its specific name, peregrinus. 
As regards the British Islands, it is common in Scotland and Wales, build- 
ing on high, precipitous rocks bordering the sea-coast. It frequents similar 
situations in Devonshire and Cornwall, where it is called the Cliff Hawk. 
In many parts of Ireland it is abundant. “In the four maritime counties 
of Ulster,” says Mr. Thompson, “it has many eyries; and in Antrim, whose 
basaltic precipices are favorable for this purpose, seven, at least, might be 
enumerated. Of these, one only is inland. At the Gobbins, regularly fre- 
quented by a pair, there were two nests in one year within an extent of rock 
considerably less than a mile.” Of the prowess and daring of this Falcon 
many instances are on record. Mr. Thompson (Mag. Zool. and Botan., 
Vol. I1., p. 53) observes, that “ Mr. Sinclair, when on one occasion exer- 
cising his dogs on the Belfast mountains, towards the end of July, prepara- 
tory to grouse shooting, saw them point; and on coming up, he startled a 
male Peregrine Falcon off a grouse (Zetrao scoticus), just killed by him ; 
and very near the same place he came upon the female bird, also on a grouse. 
Although my friend lifted both the dead birds, the hawks continued flying | 
about, and on the remainder of the pack (of grouse), which lay near, being 
sprung by the dogs, either three or four more grouse were struck down by 
them, and thus two and a half or three brace were obtained by means of 
these wild birds, being more than had ever been procured out of a pack of 
grouse by his trained Falcons.” 
The Peregrine Falcon attacks his prey 
only while on the wing, seldom pursuing it into dense cover; and it has 
been observed, that birds thus driven to shelter by the Peregrine Falcon are 
so terrified, that, rather than venture again on the wing, they will allow them- 
selves to be captured by the hand. Even the black cock has been known to 
be thus taken. Mr. Thompson says the strike of this species is more fatal 
than its clutch, and that when flown at rooks, it has been known to strike 
down several birds in suecession before alighting to prey on one; and he 
adds, “ An eye-witness to the fact assures ine that he once saw a falcon strike 
down five partridges out of a covey, one after the other; but such circum- 
