FALCOXID.E. 103 



to make better birds for flights at the Heron than young birds (" eyases '') 

 which had been reared and trained from the nest, and had never had the 

 advantage of developing the muscles of their wings in the free air. The 

 Peregrine, both in its wild and trained states, will make flights in sheer 

 wantonness at almost every other bird ; Lord Lilford, in Albania, saw one 

 actually fly at and " hustle " such a powerful bird as the Eagie-Owl. 

 "Comet," a great favourite and a very docile Tiercel* belonging to 

 Mr. Brodrick, once made a dash at a Great Xorthern Diver which chanced, 

 with a hoarse cry, to pass overhead. We have witnessed a Tiercel flying 

 at three Herons which came blundering awkwardly, with loud complaints 

 and great alarm, down a valley, and it was evident all the time that the 

 Tiercel was only in fun and teasing the birds. 



Falcons of the year are liable to very great variet)' in plumage. One of 

 the most beautiful Falcons we ever saw was one which "^as shot in the 

 parish of Stogursey, in W. Somerset, in JSTovember, and was brought to the 

 Taunton bird-stufter for preservation. This bird was of large size, and had 

 so much straw-yellow both on the poll of the head and the back of the 

 neck as to resemble a Lanner. Earlier in the year, young birds are of a 

 dark chocolate- brown, marked on the underparts with longitudinal streaks 

 of a darker colour. 



The Peregrine will strike down and devour almost any bird. Jackdaws 

 are, perhaps, its favourite dainty ; but we have seen a Peregrine drop 

 like a thunderbolt into a little flock of Wild Duck or Wigcon, and kill and 

 carry one off. Sometimes the Peregrine will condescend to make a meal 

 off the lling-Plovers and Purres upon the coast. Pigeons are often struck 

 down and devoured. We have startled a Peregrine from a freshly-killed 

 rabbit, but we do not think this bird bestows much attention upon ground- 

 game. 



Mr. Brodrick had a young Falcon, very white on the throat and breast, 

 which had not quite passed through her first moult, showing that this 

 whiteness is not the result of age. •' She is a most powerfidly built bird, 

 as wide, I think, in the chest as was a Xorway Gyi'falcon I stuffed a short 

 time back" (W. B., in JItt.). We conclude that the white-chested birds 

 belong to a very fine race of Peregrines. 



AVlierever a pair of Peregrines and a pair of Piavens occupy the same 

 cliffs, a constant warfare is waged between them, each finding the other 

 powerful adversaries ; and we liave never known the Peregrines succeed 

 in driving away the Havens, or the Itavens the Peregrines. 



Hobby. Falro sulbiifeo, Liiiii. 



A summer migrant, lint ralher scarce. Breeds occasionally in the woods 

 on the Itorders of Dartmoor. 



Tliis ])eautitul little Falcon, whose name, Mr. Howard Saunders iufornied 

 us, is taken from Haut-bois, the high woorls whirh it frequents, is a sunuuer 



* In llielaiiciiaf^eof Fulcoiirj- llic iiiiile I'l-rugriiu- is called ii •'Tiercel,'' luiil tlie reiniilii 

 I'erogriiic a " Falcon." 



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