THE FALCON. 



Hawking foi "Wild Ducks 



Goinp; u Hawking. 



Hawk. 



Peregrine Falcon. 



Hawking. 



Oxh of the most remarkable members of the Falcon family of birds is the Peregrine Falcon. Its range 

 is over Europe, the North of Asia, America and New Holland. Its length is rather more than a foot and a 

 half It has its nest on the rocks, and produces three or four eggs of a reddish hue, with brown spots. Its 

 flight is amazingly rapid. Its food consists chiefly of small birds, though it will sometimes give battle to 

 the Kite, and extend its ravages to the poultry yard. There are reckoned at least ten varieties, dependent 

 chiefly upon age, sex and country. From its successful pursuit of ducks, it is often called the Duck Hawk. 

 Under the name of Gentle Falcon, this bird was in ancient times required to be trained 'and kept for the 

 use of the Scottish Court by the king's falconer ; and as long as the office was kept up, a nest of young birds 

 was required annually to be presented by the falconer to the Barons of Exchequer. 

 C207) 



