COMMON FALCON. 125 



merous varieties, and these, having often been 

 described as distinct species, have caused much 

 confusion in ornithological works. 



The Falcon is a native of the temperate and 

 colder parts of Europe, frequenting rocky, moun- 

 tainous, and wooded regions, and preying on 

 various birds as well as on the smaller quadrupeds; 

 generally darting perpendicularly downwards with 

 great violence on its victim. It builds in the 

 hollows of rocks exposed to the South; usually- 

 laying its eggs about the close of winter, or very 

 early in the spring: these are often four in num- 

 ber, and are white, spotted with brown. So rapid 

 is said to be the growth of the young, that in the 

 space of three months they equal the parents in 

 size. 



The Varieties of this species are thus summed 

 up by Monsieur Daudin, in his work entitled 

 Traite elementaire et complet d'Ornithologie. 



1. White-Headed Falcon. With the head, neck, 

 and breast white, with small brown spots. 



2. White Falcon, Entirely white, except a few 

 indistinct yellowish spots. 



3. Black Falcon. Upper part of head and 

 t?ack blackish-brown; under parts of the bird 

 reddish-brown, with a black spot at the tip of each 

 feather: wings ~and tail blackish-brown, crossed 

 beneath with paler bars : legs deep lead-colour. 



