Mode of Falcons taking their Prey. 13 



the ground : but a near relation of mi-ae, to whom this species is famiharly 

 known, assures me, that on moon-hght nights, he has shot individuals 

 with his air-gun, as they sat at roost on the naked branches of lofty trees. 

 The practice of roosting on the ground, therefore, is not so invariable as 

 Mr. White supposed it to be. 



Falcon and Pigeon. 



Some of the larger species of Falcon may occasionally be seen flying 

 over Manchester in pursuit of the Pigeons which are kept in that town. 

 Several years since, I saw a fine Peregrine Falcon, so occupied, stoop at 

 a Pigeon, which adroitly avoided the deadly blow by a dexterous turn ; 

 in a second attempt, however, the Falcon proved more fortunate, as it 

 succeeded in carrying off its prey. Perceiving that it bore away its booty 

 in the direction which I was pursuing, I kept a sharp look-out for it, and, 

 at the distance of about a mile from the town, I observed it amusing itself 

 with the quarry, by repeatedly rising with it to a great height in the air, 

 letting it drop from this lofty elevation, and descending after it v^nth asto- 

 nishing velocity. Approaching as cautiously as I could, and seizing a 

 favourable opportunity, I succeeded in frightening away the Falcon and 

 securing the Pigeon, which was much mutilated ; the head being sepa- 

 rated from the body, which had been deeply pierced, in many places, by 

 the sharp talons of the Falcon. Now, as the manner in which birds of 

 the Falcon tribe take their prey on the wing, has long been a subject of 

 controversy among naturalists and sportsmen, who have variously conjec- 

 tured that they inflict the fatal stroke with the beak, the breast, the wings, 

 and the talons, my principal object in introducing the above anecdote is 

 the explanation of this difficulty. In the present instamce, it is evident, 

 from the peculiarity of the situation, that the Falcon could not descend 

 with its victim to the ground, as is usually the case, and this circumstance 

 enabled me to ascertain with precision, the manner in which it effected 

 its purpose. Stooping impetuously, it struck the Pigeon with great vio- 

 lence on the neck with its beak, and keeping its hold, it raised its feet, 

 and so transferred the prize to its talons, in order that it might impede its 

 flight as little as possible, and, consequently, be more readily conveyed to 

 a distance. Should it be objected, that the circumstances under which 

 this Falcon seized its prey, might induce it to change its usual mode of 



