>1l 

 efficient ally in the most interesting of tlie many 



branches of field-sports. I do not pretend to claim for 

 my favourite bird the unquestioning attachment to its 

 master or the sagacity of the dog, or to compare its 

 merits and value with those of the horse ; but I do 

 most strongly urge its claims to protection as affording 

 opportunities for most wholesome exercise of mental 

 and physical powers in training, flying, and following. 

 Some of my enthusiastic fellow-falconers have gone so 

 far as to deny altogether that our Falcon is prejudicial 

 to game ; but this is an over-statement of the case 

 which in my opinion is detrimental to our cause ; the 

 Peregrine can and does take Grouse and Partridges 

 when she gets a fair chance and is hungry, but it 

 must be remembered that as a riile she captures her 

 " quarry " in the air, and that our common game-birds 

 just mentioned are of terrestrial habits and certainly by 

 no means willing to take wing when a Falcon is in 

 sight, but do their utmost to squat close and conceal 

 themselves, so that they are by no means the habitual 

 or even (in my opinion) a particularly favourite prey of 

 the Peregrine. From my own experience in this country 

 and in other parts of Europe I am convinced that 

 Pigeons, the smaller species of the Duck family, espe- 

 cially Teal, and wading-birds of all kinds are the most 

 usual and most natural food of the Falcon, and I do 

 not think that the most ardent lover of the gun should 

 grudge her a due share of these. Personally I would 

 rather see one fine stoop of a wild or trained Falcon 

 than shoot and kill any bird that ever flew ; but, of 

 course, I cannot expect many to agree with me on this 



