BIRDS OF PREY. 



30I 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 

 The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the member of the family with which we are most 

 familiar. The plumage of the old bird is light slate colour on the upper part of the body, and marked 

 with dark grey triangular spots, which produce a striped effect ; the brow is grey, the tail striped with 

 bright grey and bordered with yellow towards the tips of the feathers; the wing-quills are greyish black, 

 the inner web being marked with reddish-yellow spots arranged in stripes ; the throat is yellow, and 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON (Fa Ico peregrin lis). 



marked by two black streaks that commence on the cheeks ; the lower part of the breast and belly are 

 reddish yellow, the former streaked with brownish yellow and marked with lozenge-shaped spots j the 

 hinder part of the body is striped with dark irregular patches. During the life of the birds the plumage 

 is covered with a greyish dust. The female is brighter in colour than her mate. The iris is dark brown, 

 the cere, corners of the mouth, and bare places around the eyes are yellow. The young are blackish 

 grey upon the upper part of the body, every feather being bordered with reddish yellow ; the throat 

 and upper part of the breast are white or greyish yellow, streaked with light or dark brown ; the beak 

 is light blue, the cere and naked places on the head blueish or greenish yellow. The old male is from 



