42 RAPTORES. FALCO. Falcon. 



tempt, however, did not deter the Falcon from watching our 

 subsequent movements, and another opportunity soon offer- 

 ing, it again gave chase, and struck down two birds by two 

 rapidly repeated blows, one of which it secured,' and bore off 

 in triumph. 



The flight of this species, when pursuing its quarry, is 

 astonishingly rapid, almost beyond credibility. By Montagu 

 it has been reckoned at 150 miles in an hour. 



Colonel Thornton, an expert falconer, estimated the flight 

 of a Falcon, in pursuit of a Snipe, to have been nine miles in 

 eleven minutes, without including the frequent turns. 



This sort was formerly much used in falconry, and was 

 flown at the larger kinds of game, wild ducks and herons. 

 Food. In its unreclaimed state it preys upon the different sorts 



of game, wild geese, wild ducks and pigeons. 



Plate 15. An adult female, in three-fourths of the natural 

 size. 

 General Bill deep bluish-grey ?t the base, black towards the tip ; 

 ton"^^^" ^^^y strong, and armed with a prominent tooth. Cere 



Adult and space surrounding the eyes lemon-yellow. Irides 



I emale. brown. From the corners of the mouth is a bluish-black 



patch or streak pointing downwards. Head greyish- 

 black. Upper parts of the plumage deep bluish-grey, 

 marbled with a darker tint. Quills brownish-black, the 

 inner webs barred with white ; the first quill having a 

 deep sinuation near the tip of the inner web. Tail-co- 

 verts bluish-grey, barred with greyish-black. 

 Tail barred alternately with black and grey, the tips of 

 the feathers white. Throat and breast yellowish- white. 

 Belly, vent and thighs greyish, transversely barred with 

 greyish-black. Under wing-coverts white, barred with 

 black ; tarsi short and strong. Toes very long, parti- 

 cularly the middle one, colour gamboge-yellow. Claws 

 black, hooked, and strong. The wings, when closed, 

 reaching to the end of the tail. 



